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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 295

The Immediate July 1943 Operation Ladbroke M.M. group of five awarded to Private (Nursing Orderly) V. N. Winter, 181st (Airlanding) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, 1st Airborne Division - having been in the only medical glider to land in Sicily, their landing was opposed the next morning when attacked by a party of 30 Italians, Winter calmly threw down his medical kit and volunteered for the assault party armed with a captured carbine and a fighting knife; driving home the attack they killed and wounded several and captured at least a dozen for the bag

Winter thence went to action again at the Battle of Arnhem, setting up in the Hotel Schoonoord, Oosterbeek; he was ultimately captured and taken a Prisoner of War, whilst the fine old hotel which had stood since 1868 was demolished due to the damage it sustained

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7370806 Pte. V. N. Winter. R.A.M.C.), on its original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France & Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (5)

M.M. London Gazette 23 December 1943. The original Recommendation for an Immediate award states:

'10th July 1943 near Syracuse. Private Winter was a member of the only medical glider to land in Sicily on the night of 9th July. On the following morning Private Winter's party was attacked by about 30 Italians; in the counter attack which followed this soldier volunteered to take his place in the assault party which was to attack the enemy.

Armed with a captured enemy carbine and a knife, Private Winter was in the forefront of the attack; he showed complete disregard for his own safety and attacked the enemy with great determination. This small action resulted in the capture of 12 Italians and the wounding and killing of several more.

After this Private Winter laid down his arms and carried on his duties as a Nursing Orderly, personally tending many wounded and assisting in the collection and evacuation of many more.'

The obituary for Victor Norman Winter was published in the Pegasus edition of December 1997:

'Victor Norman Winter was born on 23 March 1916 in Hastings. He was one of the first to join 181st Field Ambulance, on 18 January 1940 in Guildford. The Field Ambulance was an off-shoot of 133 Field Ambulance, a Croydon-based Territorial unit which was later to become 133 Para Fd Amb, attached to 4 Para Bde.

The '181' was later attached to an independent brigade consisting of four regular battalions, recently returned from India. They moved to South Wales for training. In Nov 41 they joined Airborne Forces as the Air-Landing Brigade. When the Bde split to form parts of 1st and 6th A/L Bdes the '181' remained with 1 AB Div.

In May 1942 surgical teams became part of Airborne Field Ambulances. Norman Winter joined No. 1 Surgical Team as a 'general duties orderly' and also acted as Batman to the Surgeon, Lieutenant Rigby-Jones. The unit left Liverpool on 15 May 1943 bound for North Africa. In July he found himself in the only medical glider to land on Sicily.

The Surgical Team made its approach march to its RV and set up its operating theatre in nearby farm buildings, but was forced out next morning by enemy activity. During the afternoon many Italian troops came streaming from the sea-borne landing area. Norman disarmed them and took some 20 prisoners. That evening the Surgical Team joined a Field Ambulance which had set up in a school above Syracuse.

The team was busy operating for the next four days, after which it was embarked on an LCI for return to its home in an olive grove near Sousse. For this operation Norman was awarded the Military Medal.

He took part in the Italian campaign and returned to UK at the end of 1943. In the Spring of 1944 he became batman to the new OC, Lt Col A. T. Marrable, and accompanied him to Arnhem. He was in the Main Dressing Station, Hotel Schoonhoord, Oosterbeek, until the Airborne Hospital was set up at Kasern Willem III in Apeldoorn. He was there until finally removed to a PoW Camp, where he remained until the end of hostilities.

On demobilisation he joined British Rail and worked on the staff at Warrior Square, St Leonards-on-Sea. Whilst there, there was a serious rail accident and he was able to use his RAMC training to give first-aid to the wounded.

After retirement he suffered increasing ill health and finally died in St Michael's Hospice and was buried on 23 May 97. To Maudie, his wife, and family we offer our deepest sympathy. He was a small man with a pronounced stammer. He was always one of the boys and had a great sense of humour. There was great speculation as to what was said, or stammered, when he received his Military Medal from His Majesty at Buckingham Palace.'

Winter is confirmed as having been captured at Arnhem on 26 September 1944 and having been liberated on 28 March 1945 from Stalag VII/A Mooseburg, returned home to Milward Road, Hastings.

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Estimate
£5,000 to £7,000

Starting price
£4500