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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 192

Four: Fusilier C. F. Gavillet, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, who was Killed in Action in Korea on 23 December 1950

France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Korea 1950-53 (4391781 Fus. C.F. Gavillet. R.N.F.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, nearly extremely fine (4)

Charles F. Gavillet was born at Hartlepool, County Durham in 1918. He married Daisy Fryer in 1938 and they lived at 7 Park Terrace, Handsworth, Birmingham. He joined the Army in 1939 and in January 1940 landed in France with the 5th Battalion Green Howards. They were heavily engaged in the fighting around Arras before withdrawing to a defensive position around Dunkirk. He was wounded on 16 May and on 15 June it was confirmed he was a Prisoner-of-War. Gavillet then spent five years as P.O.W. Number 43 in Stalag 11 A, Atten Grabow, Saxony. He was released in May 1945 but in 1950, aged 32, he was called up again and posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

Gavillet sailed with the Battalion in "X" Company on the Empire Halliday on 19 October 1950, and arrived in Pusan on 18 November. Ten days later on the 29 November in bitterly cold weather "X" Company was deployed on the strategically important hill feature of Sibyon-ni. The Intelligence Corps Sergeant attached to the Battalion told the Company Commander that 'The enemy were moving to attack that night' and after a heavy mortar bombardment 'X' Company was subjected to a 'Continuous and determined attack which involved hand to hand fighting'.

It was the first action of the Korean War fought by 1 Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, in temperatures approaching zero, but they held the hill. Fusilier James Barker was awarded the Military Medal in this action who: 'On his own initiative fixed his bayonet, left his slit trench and charged among the enemy. The appearance of this 6.3 foot giant among the enemy in the dark caused consternation and gave a much-needed respite to bring up more ammunition'.

Five Fusiliers were killed in the attack - including Charles Gavillet - and three were wounded. At 15:45 on Saturday 2 December the Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Lieutenant-Colonel Nugent Foster, led the Burial Service for Fusilier Gavillet in the British Plot at Kaesong. His body was first exhumed and taken to Japan and then moved again to his permanent grave in the U.N. Cemetery, Pusan; sold together with a casualty roll and Roll of Honour certificate.

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£240