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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 590

The campaign group of three awarded to Corporal M. Fitzgerald, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers

The Battalion fought a desperate rear-guard action along a stretch of the Ypres-Comines canal prior to the evacuation at Dunkirk from 27-28 May 1940; Fitzgerald was himself captured and would later have to endure 'The Long March' in 1945

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3127965 Fsr. M. Fitzgerald. R.S.Fus.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, the second a late issue, otherwise good very fine (3)

Michael Neil Fitzgerald was born in Glasgow on 22 August 1912. Enlisting as a Territorial soldier he was serving in the 2nd Battalion when they joined the British Expeditionary force on mobilisation serving in 'B' Company.

The 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers was serving in Edinburgh on the outbreak of war commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Clutterbuck. In early October 1939 the Battalion was grouped with the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders and 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiement to create the 17th Infantry Brigade, which was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division. They were sent as an independent brigade group to France in late 1939 to join the rest of the British Expeditionary Force and were involved in the Battle of Dunkirk before being evacuated to England.

Between 26-28 May 1940, along a stretch of the Ypres-Comines Canal, the 2nd Battalion put up a titanic rear guard action so that the British Expeditionary Force could carry out their evacuation at Dunkirk.

As part of the 17th Infantry Brigade, along with the 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, they were required to hold the Ypres-Comines railway line, then the canal and finally a farmstead before a last stand that saw their CO declare '...they would not go a foot back.'

After this desperate action, many members of the Battalion were killed or wounded and many taken Prisoner of War, including Fitzgerald. He was held at Stalags XXI-D and 383 before having to endure 'The Long March' in 1945.


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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£100