A very rare ‘Post-War Palestine’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Major D. A. Windeler, Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, for saving the lives of at least 12 Jews who were under attack from a large number of armed Arabs ‘in a dangerous state of excitement’

Military Cross, G.VI.R., 1st type, reverse officially dated ‘1948’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, with 8th Army bar; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Cyprus (Major, M.C., R. Tks.) mounted as worn, together with an original group photograph including recipient, entitled, ‘Army School of Physical Training, Aldershot 1940’; and a fascinating autobiography, published by recipient for private circulation in April 1999, hard bound, 229 pages, including much detail on his military service and a number of pictures, some contact wear, otherwise generally very fine or better (7) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Tank Corps formed by the late Bill Green.

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M.C. London Gazette 23 July 1948. The official recommendation states ‘On 20 December 1947, in the Galilee district of Palestine Major Windeler was commanding ‘L’ Squadron Mechanised Regiment of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force at Khalisa, with two Troops of the 17th/21st Lancers in armoured cars under command.

At about 15:00 hours a Jewish convoy excorted by two vehicles of the Jewish Settlement Police was heavily fired on by armed Arabs in the villages of Zuk et Tahtani and Khisas. Major Windeler immediately set off along the road to Khisas in a jeep with a troop of 17th/21st Lancers.

At Zuk et Tahtani one of the J.S.P. vehicles was found overturned in the river bed while two J.S.Ps., one of whom was slightly wounded were crouching in the ditch at the side of the road, Armed Arabs were closing in on the Jews with the obvious intentions of murdering them. Major Windeler walked forward with his driver and orderly and persuaded the Arabs to stop shooting. He then managed to get the two Jews away in his jeep and drove on towards Khisas.

On arrival near Khisas, Major Windeler found that the Jewish convoy had been heavily fired on from that village but had managed to turn round and was making its way towards Beit Hillel settlement.

Shooting continued, but Major Windeler, though himself under fire, dismounted and walked into Khisas with his driver and orderly. He found the second J.S.P. vehicle knocked out by small arms fire and the J.S.Ps., two of whom were seriously wounded, dispersed.

The village was full of armed Arabs who were in a dangerous state of excitement; but here too Major Windeler managed to calm them down and stop the shooting so that the Jews were able to make their way to Beit Hillel without further molestation. He then made arrangements for the evacuation of the two J.S.P. vehicles. At no time did he permit the troops under his command to open fire.

Major Windeler’s handling of a critical situation was a model of what a British officer’s behaviour on Internal Security duties should be. Without the use of any of the considerable degree of force at his disposal, but by the exercise of cool judgement and personality, under fire and at great personal risk, he prevented a dangerous situation from getting out of control. There is no doubt that this officer saved the lives of at least twelve Jews, at the risk of his own. At the same time his unwillingness to open fire under considerable provocation, and his preference for a course which involved great personal danger to himself, but did not imbroil British troops with the population, merit high praise.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 23 May 1946. ‘... in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Mediterranean Theatre.’

A total of just 11 Military Crosses were awarded post-War for Palestine.