Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 380

The superb 'North-West Europe 1944' Immediate M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Corporal J. R. Giles, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, for his remarkable acts 'behind the lines' during a hair-raising covert operation from D-Day +9 in Tilly-sur-Seulles, scene of some of the fiercest fighting during the battles for Normandy

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6019561 Pte. J. R. Giles. Essex R.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45 Star, edge bruising to the first, very fine (5)

M.M. London Gazette 19 October 1944. The recommendation - originally for a D.C.M. - states:

'On 15 June 44' this OR together with one Officer and a L/Cpl was ordered to move forward at night from Buceel to Tilly and ascertain whether or not the enemy were still in occupation of this village.

The patrol set out at 2300hrs and on approaching the outskirts of Tilly they were fired on by an enemy LMG post. The NCO threw a 36 Grenade in amongst this post and apparently silenced it. Unknown to Giles the Officer and NCO had both been hit and began to withdraw, thinking that Giles, the 'getaway' man, would be behind, and eventually made their way back to our lines. Meanwhile Giles having hidden up misguided that the Officer and NCO had moved back again, resumed the advance. He reached the cemetery at Butte and waited until dawn. He then found that he was in the midst of the enemy's position. Altogether he lay up in the enemy lines for two nights and a day and a half, making careful note of the enemy dispositions.

On 17 June when the Battalion attacked Tilly he ran out in the face of enemy and fire with complete disregard for his own life to present his Company Commander with his vital information about the enemy's dispositions.'

John Robert Giles, a native of E16, London (Canning Town, Royal Docks, North Woolwich) who worked for Siemens in civilian life. An extract from Siemen's Magazine takes up the story:

'Lance-Corporal Giles, 5ft1inch tall, and the shortest Lance-Corporal in the Essex Regiment has been awarded the Military Medal. If he has been a little taller he might never have known about it. John, who worked in the Paper Shop and Sheathing Department before joining the Army, set out one night last July with an officer and a sergeant to pass through the German lines to locate gun and machine-gun posts in Tilly. They arranged (gruesome choice) to meet if separated, in Tilly graveyard. Fired on by a German patrol, the others were both wounded, and John, having located the machine-gun posts reached the graveyard alone. Hiding till nightfall, the attempted to cross a bridge over which he had come the previous night, but German machine-gun fire caused him to dive into the river, where he came among some reeds which only just hid him. Had he been taller he must have been spotted by the German gunner who continued to fire bursts into the water. Deciding to lie low for the night, John was awakened by the roar of artillery and found he had been asleep almost under the muzzles of six German big guns. He lay there for six hours until he heard what he describes as "the sweetest music he ever heard" - the rattle of the Bren guns of our own advancing troop. Making a dash towards them, again under fire from the machine-guns, he managed to reach his goal safely and reported the exact position of the German guns, which in a few minutes were blown out of action.'

Giles is additionally noted as having '...escaped, after capture' in the Regimental History; sold together with extract from Siemen's Magazine, June-July 1945.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£950