Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 624

A Second World War casualty's campaign group of five awarded to Sergeant B. Lane, Royal Armoured Corps (R.A.C.)

A member of the 48th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, he was wounded in the 'Battle of the Peaks' in Tunisia in April 1943, when his unit's Churchill tanks captured German positions under a galling fire

The uphill performance of the Churchills - or 'mountain goats' as they became known - was outstanding, one captured German officer stating "I knew it was all over" the moment they appeared on the scene

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (420274 Sjt. B. Lane, R. Tks.), mounted as worn, minor official correction to last, good very fine (5)

B. Lane is confirmed by official records as having been wounded in Tunisia on 24 April 1943, while serving in 48th Royal Tank Regiment (R.A.C.); WO 417/60, refers.

As further confirmed in Peter Gudgin's history of the unit - With Churchills to War - Lane was a member of 'B' Squadron, and it was in this capacity that he received his wounds during wider operations to secure Long Stop Hill and the road to Tunis.

Ordered to engage enemy armour and positions on Banana Ridge at 2.00 p.m. on the 24th, in support of the 1st King's Shropshire Light Infantry and 2nd Foresters, 'B' Squadron carried out a swift and successful attack, knocking out five German tanks and damaging another, but not before enemy mines, 88mm. fire and mortars had taken their toll. Three of the Squadron's Churchills were knocked out, with a loss of five killed and eight wounded. Two of the latter were seriously wounded, one later dying, and given Lane's campaign medal entitlement, it is likely he was the other casualty with serious wounds.

'B' Squadron had earlier seen action in support of the 6th Surreys in the assault on two hill features - the Djebel-el-Mehirigar and Djebel Djaffa - on 21 April, when the 48th R.T.R. suffered a loss of three killed and six wounded.

It was on this occasion that the 48th were credited with recovering a virtually intact Tiger tank - turret number '131' - the first such tank to be captured by the Allies in working order in the war. Subsequently displayed in Tunis, '131' was inspected by H.M. the King and Winston Churchill, prior to being shipped back to the U.K.

Today, in the care of the Tank Museum at Bovington, '131' is the only working Tiger tank in the world.

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

Sold for
£240

Starting price
£100