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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 633

(x) Six: Trooper A. S. Everett, Cape Town Highlanders, late Southern Rhodesian Reconnaissance Regiment, who was killed in action during the savage fighting around Cassino on 14 May 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45 (SR.598243 A. S. Everett), the last officially renamed, traces of lacquer, otherwise good very fine (6)

Arthur Stephen Everett was born at Mafeking, South Africa on 14 April 1914 and lived in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia working as an electrician prior to enlisting on 3 October 1941. Posted to the Park River Training Camp on 16 December 1941 for training with the Southern Rhodesian Reconnaissance Regiment. Here his poor lack of discipline and tendency to go absent without leave saw him regularly punished.

It may have been for that reason that he re-attested on 3 March 1943 with the 1st City Regiment, Union Defence Force. Disembarking at the Suez Canal for service with this unit Everett saw fighting throughout the rest of the North Africa Campaign and into Italy. They formed part of the Allied push to breach the Gustav Line and encircle the heavily defended position of Cassino. The book Cape Town Highlanders expands on the bitter fighting stating:

'In the Cassino sector, the Germans were still putting up bitter resistance, blocking any advance up the Liri Valley, but nevertheless the British and Indians has secured a firm bridgehead across the Rapido by the evening of May 13 and were bringing up their XIII Corps reserve division to cut Highway 6 and isolate Cassino in conjunction with Poles, who had regrouped after their stern fighting in the opening phases of the offensive.
That night enemy 105's hit a mortar pit filled with reserve ammunition in the RDLI company area, starting a fire which burned a long time. Battalion HQ, the forward brigade telephone exchange and Jeephead were all heavily shelled; many telephone lines were cut and an old Canadian ammunition dump was hit and set alight.'

As well as heavy shelling they were forced to contend with German patrols which struck regularly at advanced positions. One of these made up of men from the 1/100th Mountain Regiment of the German 5th Mountain Division infiltrated behind 'B' Company, Cape Town Highlanders on the night of 14 May 1944. They were identified and engaged by the South Africans, with Everett being killed in the engagement. Five German troops were killed and a further three men of 'B' Company wounded; sold together with copied service papers and an extract from the Cape Town Highlanders.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£120

Starting price
£70