Orders, Decorations and Medals

A superb Second World War North Africa operations M.C. and Bar group of four awarded to Lieutenant D. S. “Duggie” Low, Royal Tank Regiment (R.A.C.): in writing to his mother after his death in 1943, his C.O. spoke of ‘the finest subaltern in action I have ever known’, and of an officer who literally appeared not to know the meaning of fear, a contention more than justified by the remarkable nature of his M.C. recommendations, and by the story of his escape from six German guards - one of whom he felled by a single blow

Military Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverses of the Cross and of the Bar both officially dated ‘1943’, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; War Medal 1939-45, these last four in their original card forwarding box addressed to his father, with Army Council condolence slip in the name of ‘Lieutenant D. S. Low, M.C.’, generally extremely fine (4) £3000-3500

M.C. London Gazette 18 May 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘Lieutenant Low was in command of a Scout Car Troop in a light squadron of the Battalion of the Royal Tank Regiment and on 20 February 1943, during an attack on the enemy positions at Metameur, he showed outstanding initiative and personal courage.

The Brigade objective was to cut the Metameur-Maret main road. The Battalion was leading the advance and within about an hour or less had advanced round the right flank and was in position overlooking the road and behind the enemy’s main defences, but it was impossible to cut the road as the enemy had a strong anti-tank screen supported by tanks covering the north side of the road. The Light Squadron was then ordered to find the right flank and try to get on to the road.

Lieutenant Low, with others, was ordered to reconnoitre with his Troop. Although by then reduced to only one scout car, by daring and initiative he soon found a route on the right flank and actually got on to the road through the anti-tank screen. By this time the enemy was pulling out certain elements to the North-West along the road. Lieutenant Low, seeing this, still commenced to stop enemy lorries. He soon collected six lorries and a staff car, and took one officer and 16 other ranks prisoner, and passed back very valuable information.
In this action the enemy was strongly entrenched in a naturally first class defensive position, and there is no doubt that he intended to stay. Yet he was turned out after one day’s brisk fighting. It is quite obvious that the reason for this was the fact that the main road was cut behind him. That was his greatest fear and to nothing else would he have reacted so quickly. Before the road was cut the Battalion received orders not to go any further but vigorous patrol activity was continued and it can be justly said that the cutting of the road was without question almost entirely due to the initiative, dash and courage of Lieutenant Low.

Lieutenant Low’s fearless action in penetrating the enemy’s anti-tank screen was largely responsible for the enemy’s defeat and subsequent leaving of the vital Tedjera features in our hands.’


Bar to M.C. London Gazette 19 August 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘On 6 May 1943, Lieutenant Low was commanding his Scout Car Troop of three cars. His Squadron was doing protection front to the Regimental Group. The leading tanks were fired on by a 50mm. gun from a concealed position in a Wadi and one tank was knocked out. The enemy gun could not be located. It was vital for the advance not to be delayed at this critical moment. Lieutenant Low was ordered to reconnoitre the enemy gun. With great dash and gallantry he went straight for the suspected position and ran right onto a Mk. III Special which engaged him. Lieutenant Low then showed outstanding bravery and initiative. He converged on the enemy tank with his Troop firing his Bren Guns with a view to engaging it at close quarters with hand grenades. The enemy tank turned about and fled. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Low’s tyres were filled with machine-gun bullets in the action and the “going” was soft, so he was unable to catch the enemy tank, but otherwise he would undoubtedly have captured a Mk. III Special by his superb courage.

Lieutenant Low then continued the advance and a little later the Squadron was held up by a 75mm. anti-tank gun. Again he showed the same dash and initiative and converged on the enemy wiping out the crew and capturing the gun.

It was actions such as these which never gave the enemy a chance to establish their line. Lieutenant Low’s initiative and courage were an inspiration and example to all ranks.’


Douglas Seth “Duggie” Low, a native of Leytonstone, ‘who gained a scholarship to Oxford and up to the outbreak of war had been successful in obtaining the Diploma of Economics’, died on 19 August 1943, presumably as a result of an accident, while serving in the 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment (R.A.C.) - the Bar to his M.C. was gazetted on the very same date. When writing to his mother later that year, Low’s former C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel T. M. Hutton, paid tribute to her son’s extraordinary courage and daring:


‘Dear Mrs. Low,

I was Douglas’ - or “Duggie” as we called him - Commanding Officer from the time he first joined the 5th Battalion at Tobruk, or rather just before, until July of this year. Thus I was with him throughout the time the Battalion was in action.

No words of mine can take away the infinite pain of his loss that must be with you all the time. It was such a tragic end to the life of the finest subaltern in action I’ve ever known. But perhaps I can give you some little comfort and make you realise even more how intensely proud you can be of him, even as the Battalion was. I wasn’t with the Battalion on the fatal day, but I know.

As you know, Duggie won the Military Cross twice. That was a very brave recognition of his magnificent courage and daring in action. He literally seemed not to know what “fear” is. He was always an inspiration to the whole Battalion in action and I can assure you I was terribly proud to command such a fine young officer. I have never known anyone quite like him. He used to do the most astonishing things and by sheer grit and courage get away with them. For example, there was the time he escaped from the middle of the German lines, when escorted by 6 German guards. He hit the nearest one and knocked him down. Then in the confusion he escaped, followed by a fusillade of shots, which fortunately never touched him.

Then there was the time he charged a German Panzer tank in a tiny little scout car, firing his Bren Gun. Imagine the incredible nerve. The German tank, armed with a large anti-tank gun as well as machine-guns, turned and fled. That was the stuff of which Duggie was made. No wonder we all loved him and admired him.

I used to talk to Duggie sometimes, not as his C.O. but as a man and I know he is a great loss to England. He had the makings of great promise. It would have taken a lot to stop him.



Yet God called him and out of battle too. There must be a reason for it all, far beyond our comprehension. All I know is he was one of the finest officers I’ve ever met and I loved and admired him. Please accept my sincerest sympathy. I know what it means. Not many families don’t nowadays.

I know you will have courage, as Duggie would like you to have. You couldn’t possibly be his mother if you weren’t brave. When I return to England I will try and come and see you. I hope it helps you a little to know what his C.O. thought of him. I mean every word that I have written ... ’


The son of Willie Thomas and Jane Low, of 28 Woodriffe Road, Leytonstone, London, Low was 25 years old at the time of his death. He was buried in the Tripoli War Cemetery.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including a pre-war portrait photograph; War Office letter to the recipient’s father, forwarding a copy of the citation for the M.C. (dated 30 August 1943), and an old carbon copy of the citation for the Bar; a wartime period typed copy of his C.O’s letter of condolence to his mother, which was dated 15 November 1943; a copy of the Stratford Express newspaper for Friday, 14 May 1943, an account of Seth’s gallant exploits appearing in a front page feature, with portrait photograph; War Office letter regarding the removal of the recipient’s remains for burial in the Tripoli Military Cemetery, Libya (dated 6 March 1945), and Imperial War Graves Commission communication regarding the availability of cemetery registers; and a “Secret” Intelligence Summary which would appear to relate to the recipient’s brother, who served in the R.A., this dated 5 December 1944.