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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 343

A 'Battle of Bir Hakeim' casualties campaign group of five awarded to Guardsman F. W. Marris, a pre-war Regular, who was likely killed during Stuka dive-bombing attacks on infantry positions in the North African Desert in May 1942

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2658006 Gdsmn. F. W. Marris. C. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the second to fifth privately engraved '2658006 Gdsm F. W. Marris 3 C Gds', light contact marks to first, very fine (5)

Frederick William Marris was born in 1920, the son of William Henry and Edith May Marris of Kingston-upon-Hull. Having served as a Guardsman in Palestine, Marris transferred to North Africa with the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, and found himself in the thick of the action in May 1942 when German mechanised units attempted to move north and attack the Knightsbridge Box. As the enemy moved up the Hacheim-Accroma track on 27 May 1942, they were heavily engaged by the Guards, anti-tank guns succeeding in knocking out 16 vehicles. The Battalion War Diary notes:

'The total bag for the day was 7 enemy tanks, 19 trucks, 1 x 88mm gun and 1 prisoner captured.'

That night the Battalion listening posts reported various movements of motorised enemy troops and at 7 a.m. the skyline was brought to life by an exchange between 2nd Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, and the German gunners. At 1 p.m. the Luftwaffe sent in six Stuka aircraft in retaliation for the Guards knocking out three German tanks. The Royal Air Force retaliated with 12 Boston aircraft who succeeded in bombing a concentration of the enemy to the north-west. Enraged, the Stukas returned, this time focussing upon British infantry to the east, before both sides commenced a tank battle in the heat of the day with the 2nd Armoured Brigade exchanging fire from distance with the 15th Panzer Division.

It was at around this time on 28 May 1942 that Marris was killed in action, his death being the only one recorded that day in the Western Desert for the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Aged just 22 years, he is commemorated upon the Alamein Memorial; sold with copied C.W.G.C. and War Diary entries.


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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£110