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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 107

A rare 'Italy Operations 1944' Silver Star group of eight awarded to Captain H. H. Greig, L (Nery) Battery, 2nd Royal Horse Artillery, who was decorated by the United States for his gallantry when the R.H.Q. of the 9th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry was shelled during their attack on the Arboreta feature in September 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; United States of America, Silver Star, mounted as worn, together with another Silver Star (Hunter H. Greig), with their cases of issue, good very fine (8)

Approximately 335 awards of the Silver Star to British personnel during the Second World War.

United States Silver Star London Gazette 18 July 1947:

'For gallantry in action in Italy on 19 September 1944. When the Regimental HQ of the infantry unit which he was supporting was accurately shelled by enemy artillery fire which killed, wounded or partially buried most of the occupants and set fire to stores of ammunition nearby, Captain Greig demonstrated outstanding courage in assisting the removal of the wounded and in directing the fire of his Battery on hostile artillery unt it was completely silenced. Then despite the burning ammunition which was exploding all around him, he maintained communications with forward elements of the infantry unit until other units arrived to assist in the counter assault.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 May 1946.

Hunter Hanbury Greig was born in April 1919 in India, where his father was a banker. By the time of the Second World War he was living at Fleet, Hampshire and earned his remarkable Silver Star from the United States Forces for his gallantry on 19 September 1944 during the attack by the 9th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry on the Arboreta feature. At the time he was the CO of L (Nery) Battery, 2nd Royal Horse Artillery. Greig died at Edinburgh in November 2014.

For his miniature dress Medals, please see Lot 363.

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Estimate
£2,400 to £2,800

Starting price
£2100