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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 497

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

A Second World War North-West Europe M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant E. R. S. Fifoot, Coldstream Guards, later Head Librarian at the Bodleian, Oxford

Military Cross, G.VI.R., officially dated '1946', the reverse contemporarily engraved 'Lieut. E. R. S. Fifoot. Coldstream Guards', in its original Royal Mint case of issue and card forwarding case and letter as issued; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 24 January 1946, the original recommendation states:

'This officer has been an outstanding patrol and platoon leader ever since joining the Battalion in August 1944. Every time he has had the opportunity to distinguish himself for bravery and devotion to duty he has done so. Outstanding examples occurred during twice during Operation 'Veritable'.

In the Battalion attack at Mull south east of Gennep he commanded the right hand forward platoon which had to cross 3000 yards of open country in face of heavy and accurate enemy DF fire and considerable small arms fire from farm houses and concrete 'Hay Stacks'. Over all this distance this officers fine example was of the utmost encouragement and resulted, despite heavy casualties, in complete victory.

Again on the 9th March this officer was commanding a forward platoon in the Battalion attack on the Wesel bridgehead. His platoon started to suffer casualties before crossing the start line and on reaching that they were met with further heavy small arms and mortar fire.

Despite all this Lieut. Fifoot led his platoon with conspicuous dash and gallantry. No sooner was the original objective reached than he was ordered to carry out a difficult manoeuvre to the flank to meet a threatened German counter attack. Despite intense and accurate mortar and Nebelwerfer fire he accomplished this manoeuvre with great skill thus neutralising the threat to his Company's whole position.

These are but two examples of this young officer's intrepid conduct as a Platoon Commander in the offensive operations of the last few months. During the winter defensive fighting he was equally outstanding as a gallant and resourceful patrol leader. His outstanding conduct and devotion to duty have on many occasions been brought to the notice of his superiors.'

Erik Richard Sidney Fifoot was born on 14 June 1925 at Woodstock, Oxfordshire to the noted legal scholar Cecil Herbert Stuart Fifoot and Hjordis Baars Erikson. His father was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1917 and, as a result of injuries sustained in Flanders, was partially deafened. Fifoot studied at Berkhamsted School and later the University of Oxford. He was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1943. The award of the Military Cross after a period of sustained service with 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards during Operation Veritable, the allied offensive through the Reichswald forest onto the Rhine flood plain. During this operation the 5th Battalion served with 32 Brigade in General Horrocks' 30 Corps.

With the end of the war Fifoot left the Army to continue his studies. He was married on 2 September 1949 to Jean Meriel Stuart Thain, daughter of Colonel J. S. Thain, M.C. of the Royal Engineers, late of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The next year he was studying at University College London for a Diploma in Librarianship and Archives beginning work that same year in the library of the University of Leeds, a role he remained in until 1958 by which time he had risen from Assistant Librarian to Sub Librarian. Appointed Deputy Librarian at Nottingham University in 1958 he then became Librarian and the University of Edinburgh in 1960, a post he held for nearly twenty years until 1979. During this time he published A Bibliography of Edith, Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell which he had begun writing after demobilisation in 1950. Fifoot was made Professorial Fellow at Exeter College, Oxford and in 1979 returned to Oxford along with his wife, that same year he sat as Chairman of the Society of College, National and University Libraries. Finally he was made Head Librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford on 1 January 1980. Fifoot retired in 1981 and founded Three Rivers Books Ltd which he ran as Director from 1981-1990. He also remained a member of the Executive Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions until 1983. Fifoot died on 24 June 1992 in Oxfordshire; sold together with original photograph, order of service for the recipient's funeral, a letter to Jane Fifoot and the original letter of issue from King George as well as a copy of the Sitwell Bibliography by the recipient and a copy of the recommendation for the award. Along with a mixed collection of photographs and a wartime diary from Jane Fifoot.

For his miniature dress medals please see Lot 611. For photographs and newspaper clippings relating to his father-in-law Colonel J. S. Thain, please see Lot 598.

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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£800