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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 587

'On February 8, 1945, Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks climbed onto a platform halfway up a tree. From there, as he wrote later, "I could see in front of me a peaceful looking valley with small farms dotted here and there. On the far side lay the sinister Reichswald Forest. Over this valley 30 Corps were about to attack." Horrocks's men, watching one of the heaviest British artillery barrages of the war, expected a walkover. Instead, they would suffer some of the fiercest fighting of the war … '

The Sinister Valley, By David H. Lippman, refers.

A pre-war Palestine and Second World War campaign group of five awarded to Guardsman S. Binks, 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards

Having likely participated in heavy fighting in Operation "Market Garden" in September 1944 - when Brigadier "Joe" Vandeleur's 3rd Irish Guards, part of 32nd Guards Brigade, led the breakout of XXX Corps for the anticipated relief of Arnhem - Binks was wounded in the "Sinister Valley" - at Hoomersum on the Dutch-German border - in mid-February 1945

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2718475 Gdsmn. S. Binks, I. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, together with the recipient's 'For Loyal Service' badge, good very fine or better (6)

As verified by official British Army casualty returns, Binks was wounded on 14-15 February 1945; WO 417/88, refers. At that time, as part of XXX Corps, his battalion was allocated to operation "Veritable", otherwise known as the battle of the Reichswald.

Having reached Groesbeek on the 13th - a 'bleak and desolate village of which no house was undamaged, and few boasted an upper storey' - the 3rd Irish Guards were ordered to mount an attack on the village Hommersum. Two companies attacked at 1700 hours on the 14th, 50 German prisoners being taken without loss.

On the morning of the 15th, however, heavy enemy artillery fire was brought down on the village as part of a counter-attack and a patrol, under Lieutenant R. Tennison, became cut off by a force of 70 or so enemy infantrymen. Tennison - and others - were wounded and his men had to make their own way back individually. Here, then, the likely action in which Binks was wounded.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£130