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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 190

The superb Immediate Second World War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Lance Sergeant H. Sye, London Irish Rifles, who was posthumously decorated for his actions during the attack on Hill 387, Monte Pieve, single-handedly subduing an enemy machine gun nest and twice attempting to reach further positions before he was overcome by his wounds

Refusing the aid of stretcher bearers he was eventually discovered by a patrol having lain in the open for over 36 hours, tragically his wounds proved mortal

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (7020431 L. Sjt. H. Sye. Lond. Ir Rif.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, recently court-mounted for wear, edge bruise to first otherwise light polishing, overall very fine (5)

D.C.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945: The original recommendation states:

‘7020431 Lance-Sergeant Henry Sye, 2nd Bn. London Irish Rifles, (Belfast) (Since died of wounds)

Fontanelice 032255 Italy 1/25,000 Sheet 99 IV/NW.

On 21st October 1944 on the occasion of ‘H’ Coy’s night attack on Hill 387 N of Monte Pieve the above named N.C.O. was at outset Platoon Sgt. Early in the attack his platoon which was leading the Coy. came under very intensive small arms fire and heavy shelling. Considerable casualties were caused and the Platoon Comd. was killed. L/Sgt. Sye immediately rallied the few remaining men of his platoon and continued to press up the steep slopes towards the objective. All the time he was facing heavy M.G. fire and grenades at short range, but despite this he pressed on with total disregard for his personal safety.

By crawling forward he attacked single handed one M.G. post and successfully killed or wounded all of its occupants.

Not content with this feat, he tried twice more to reach another enemy M.G. but was severely wounded in the attempt.

Throughout this attack, as on many previous occasions L/Sgt. Sye behaved with great personal courage and displayed the highest quality of leadership.’

Henry Sye was a native of Belfast, little is known of his early life however at the time of his death he had a sister, Annie Sye living at 49 Stratheder Street, Belfast. He served with the London Irish Rifles from the outset of their campaigning experience, being with them in North Africa and after that Sicily and Italy.

They were advancing in tandem with the American 88th Division in October 1944 when they ran up against the German defences on Mount Pieve and Spaduro. Probing attacks met with heavy resistance but to the surprise of the British the German's withdrew from Mount Pieve and reinforced their positions on the Spaduro Ridge.

One of the Keys to this position was Hill 387, a well defended site close to the Ridge, which the Brigade moved to reconnoitre on 19 October. There are several accounts of this patrol and all mention the sight which met the scouts eye, 'a fat Teuton performing his toilet on the top of Point 387 - about 700 yards ahead' (The narrative of Brigadier Pat Scott, Refers).

The London Irish Rifles were the second force to have a crack at the position which had resisted the efforts of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. A letter written by Colonel H. E. N. Bredin to the sister of the recipient gives details of Sye's action during the resulting Battle, stating:

'Your brother's actions during the engagement when he was wounded were some of the most gallant performed by this battalion. Without his leadership and personal fighting abilities his company would never have got as far as they did.
His self-sacrifice when wounded, of refusing to be taken away by the stretcher-bearers, and trying to crawl by himself, resulted in his being lost for a number of hours.
The constant hammering that the battalion gave the Germans at Monte Spadins [SIC], in which your brother played such a great part, was very largely responsible for the capture of this important position by the Division with the loss to the enemy of nearly 200 prisoners and upwards of 50 killed.
In a touching personal tribute he added 'I would also like to say how very much beloved he was by his brother sergeants and indeed by all of us. He was a very fine soldier of the typed only Ireland can produce.'

Despite finally being given medical attention some 36 hours after initially being wounded Sye died on 7 November 1944. He is buried at the Rome War Cemetery; sold together with copied research and 5 original wartime Italian Lire notes.


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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2600