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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 191

The 'Battle for Bocholt 1945' D.C.M. group of five awarded to Company Sergeant Major J. Chapman, 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was wounded in action during bloody fighting in Normandy - he was also the recipient of a B.A.O.R. Certificate of Good Service

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (4199944 A/W.O.Cl.2. J. Chapman, R.W.Fus.), on its original pin; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medal 1939-45, light contact wear, very fine (5)

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 January 1946, the original recommendation states:

'A/CSM Chapman as a platoon Sgt in Normandy, Holland and Germany has shown outstanding courage and leadership under most difficult circumstances. He has led many patrols, taken command of the platoon when his officer has become a casualty and has always been a great source of inspiration to the men of his platoon and latterly as CSM to his Company during some very hard battles. To quote one particular action at Bocholt when his Company was putting in an attack with a squadron of tanks on the night of 28 Mar 45. Sgt Chapman was commanding the leading platoon. Thick fog, apart from the darkness made this attack doubly difficult. As Sgt Chapman's leading section approached the objective it was held up by Spandau fire from two houses. Placing himself at the head of his remaining two secs, Sgt Chapman led them forward under heavy enemy arty and MG fire, captured the two houses and took 20 POW. When dawn broke he found himself under fire from some further houses on his flank. Thereupon he organised a raid, after some fierce fighting occupied the houses and took further PWs all of a Para Div. At this point the CSM of the Coy was wounded and Sgt Chapman took over his duties - a task which he performed most creditably for another two attacks.

Throughout this period his keenness to close with the enemy, his courage and his example were above all praise.'

John Chapman saw heavy action with the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the Second World War, notably early in the Battle for Normandy at Hill 112. Chapman appears on a casualty list around this time, although the date of his wounding was not recorded, most of the casualties on the list are for June-July 1944.

The Battalion was again in heavy action at the Reichswald Forest in early 1945 during Operation Veritable in which the Division faced off with the elite Fallschirmjäger. Operation Plunder, the Crossing of the Rhine, closely followed Veritable and in the aftermath of that most-successful action the 53rd (Welsh) Division was ordered to take the town of Bocholt.

The town had suffered heavily at the hands of bombers and artillery which had destroyed %85 of the local infrastructure and caused forest fires. In the rubble strewn streets the Welsh found themselves under fire from ever angle as German troops dug in for what proved to be a brutal urban battle centred around a battery of 88mm guns. The town was not captured until 30 March after several counter attacks. It was for this engagement that Chapman won his D.C.M.

After the war he was posted to the Army Reserve on 18 May 1946; sold together with an B.A.O.R. certificate of good service and copied research.

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Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£2500