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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 585

(x) 'Major Adair's Grenadiers evoked the highest admiration amongst all the soldiers they passed on their way, the Guardsmen showing no sign of exhaustion. The ferocity of their attack however would later be confirmed ... German losses were high for the 27-28 May 1940. In front of the bitterly fought over Woestyns House lay the bodies of Major Riedelsdorfer, Kommandeur of III/IR 176, together with his Adjutant Leutnant Gansnske and Oberleutnant Gorg. The counter-attack by the 3rd Grenadiers stunned the enemy who consequently over-estimated the Battalion's strength and withdrew. In fact Adair was beset by communications difficulties and No.'s 1 and 2 Companies had been so reduced in numbers as to be almost non-effective. They were also rightly proud that during the 28th despite many attacks they had not lost a single inch of ground they had been ordered to hold.'

Guards V.C., by Dilip Sarkar, refers.

A fine Second World War B.E.F. 1940 operations D.C.M. group of six awarded to Company Sergeant-Major J. W. Wood, Grenadier Guards, who was decorated for his gallantry in the 3rd Battalion's epic defence of the Lys Canal - back in action as a C.S.M. in the 5th Battalion in Italy, he was severely wounded in the chest in July 1944

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (2614780 Sjt. J. W. Wood, G. Gds.), with its named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, with its card box of issue, good very fine and better (6)


D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940. The original recommendation states:

'On 28 May 1940 on the Lys Canal, this N.C.O. was in command of the Company, when all the officers and W.Os had become casualties. Inspired by his fine leadership, the Company resisted repeated enemy attacks and held fast to the position for 13 hours until ordered to withdraw at dusk. He showed high courage throughout the operation.'

John William Wood was born in Warrington, Lancashire, on 18 September 1916 and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in March 1936, aged 19 years. Posted to the 3rd Battalion, he was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 (official roll refers), and was advanced to Sergeant in January 1940, in which month his battalion joined 5th Division, B.E.F.

Here, then, the scene of his D.C.M.-winning exploits on 28 May 1940, when the Division's staunch defence of the Comines-Lys Canal front against three German Divisions saved II Corps and, frankly, the B.E.F. - but it was a costly stand which left the 3rd Grenadiers with just nine officers and 270 other ranks standing. For his own part, Wood served in No. 1 Company under Lieutenant R. Crompton-Roberts, M.C., which unit was all but annihilated, latterly having charged with fixed bayonets to clear their side of the Lys Canal of the enemy, the whole front lit up by tracer bullets.

Among those to be evacuated from Dunkirk on 2 June 1940, Wood was next appointed a C.Q.M.S. in the 4th (Heavy Tank) Battalion, but was serving as a C.S.M. in the 6th Battalion by the time of his participation in the Salerno landings in September 1944. Later still, his unit was merged with the 3rd and 5th Battalions, and it was in this latter capacity that he was seriously wounded on 24 July 1944. Wood was transferred to the Regular Army Reserve in March 1946; sold with further details and copied service record.


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Sold for
£3,000