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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 141

(x) The General Service Medal awarded to Lance-Corporal H. Wivell, Parachute Regiment, who dropped onto El Gamil Airfield during Operation Musketeer with the Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company, 3rd Battalion

General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Cyprus, Near East (22977964 LCpl H Wivell Para), private rivets between clasps, mounted as worn, good very fine

Harry Wivell was called up for National Service in 1953 and had an uncle who was a Para and another two who had been Royal Marines. It just so happened the attack on El Gamil came just after his 21st birthday, which had been on 4 November 1956. The most recent, and to date, the last combat drop by the Paras, took place at Suez, when they joined French forces to protect the shipping canal after Egypt's President Nasser ‘nationalised' the international waterway. In November 1956, Lt Col Paul Crook, commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, was told to prepare his Cyprus based unit for an operation. But with the 'run-down' of airborne forces after the war, equipment was in short supply.

The plan, jointly agreed with French military commanders, called for 3 Para to parachute into a 'hot DZ' - held by the enemy - where they expected to face a fierce battle against 2,000 Egyptian troops, who were supported by armour. Operation Musketeer would need the element of total surprise if it was to succeed, and all 660 men had to be on the ground at El Gamil airfield and ready for action within four and a half minutes. Aircraft were covered in a coat of 'Gentian violet', a blue coloured medication, in a bid to camouflage them against the bright rays of the rising sun. In addition the airstrip at El Gamil was very narrow and the drop height had to be restricted to 700ft or less, in order to avoid soldiers being swept off the DZ by crosswinds.

A further move which was not popular with the Battalion, was the decision not to wear reserve parachutes, due to the fact that they would not have the chance to use them at such low level. The Brigade had hardly enough aircraft for a single battalion lift. The Hastings and Valettas were unable to carry heavy equipment and at that time, the new Beverley transporters were not yet available. At 04.15 hours on November 5, 1956, 3 Para jumped in.

Wivell soon formed up and they set to work - putting a 106 gun out of action with a direct hit on their first shot, following it up with a second soon after. The outskirts of Port Said gave them the chance for a hat trick, taking out a machine-gun post this time.

Wivell was discharged on 16 January 1957, attended the 50th Anniversary Dinner and penned an article on his experiences for the June/July 1998 edition of Medal News; sold together with a copy of that article, copied Dinner ticket and photographs, besides and unused 1998 El Gamil Group diary.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£350