Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction No. 2 - including Masonic Jewels
Lot: 10

A Second World War Burma operations M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal E. Eglon, Royal Army Service Corp

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (T/67307 Cpl. E. Eglon. R.A.S.C.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star, privately engraved '387 Coy (A) R.A.S.C.'; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)

M.M. London Gazette 12 July 1945:

'On the night 24/25 Feb 45, 5 Inf Bde commenced operations to force the crossing of the River Irrawaddy at Myittha and to secure a bridgehead on the South bank of the river.

It was initially planned that the crossing would be executed as a silent night-operation, using infantry assault boats. However as a result of early enemy interference with the crossing and the difficulties encountered by the assault boats in the strong current, it became necessary to change this plan and to use Dukws for ferrying across the successive flights of assaulting infantry.

Cpl. Eglon was the NCO in one of the Dukws detachments which was at very short notice switched over to this hazardous role. The craft under his charge performed outstanding work all through the night and the following day, despite vigorous and effective interference from Jap machine guns and snipers, which had the crossing continuously under observation from the South bank. The craft were subjected to accurate enemy fire almost every time they crossed the river, resulting in casualties and considerable damage to some of the craft.

That the drivers of the detachments worked so splendidly in these difficult conditions and that this quickly improvised plan ran smoothly was due in large part to the personal example of coolness, initiative and energy which Cpl. Eglon displayed. He was tireless in the cheerful encouragement of his men and later when one of his drivers was wounded, he himself took over one of the Dukws, making a number of crossings, all of them under fire.

His craft was hit on several occasions and a number of men in his craft were wounded, but Eglon remained quite unperturbed, showing complete lack of concern from his personal safety. I strongly recommend that he should be awarded the Military Medal for his splendid example of courage and devotion to duty.'

Edmund Eglon won his M.M. serving with 387 Company, Royal Army Service Corps Infantry Divisional Transport. A Company of the Royal Army Service Corps operated 40 DUKWs in Burma to supplement the lines of communication when road bridges were swept away by the monsoon. The abbreviation DUKW was the code used by General Motors for the amphibious DUKW. D stands for 1942, the first year of manufacture; U for amphibian; K for all-wheel drive; and W for dual rear axles.

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

Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£420