Auction Catalogue

10 & 11 December 2014

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 809

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11 December 2014

Hammer Price:
£2,000

A Second World War North Africa operations M.M. awarded to Corporal D. L. Wiggett, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was decorated for his gallantry in the 7th Battalion’s attack on the “Humps North” feature in May 1943, when he commanded a section ‘which put out of action fourteen heavily armed enemy’



Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5346148 Cpl. D. L. Wiggett, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.), good very fine £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 19 August 1943. The recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘In the attack on the Humps North of Enfidaville on 8 May 1943 by 7th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Corporal Wiggett was in command of the right section of the Battalion. During the advance his personal example and high qualities of leadership maintained the highest fighting qualities of his section, with the result that they captured a strong machine-gun position in the face of heavy opposition and accounted for ten of the enemy. Later when his section had occupied the right forward position he put out of action fourteen heavily armed enemy who threatened him to the rear with no casualties to his section. Throughout the action his conduct of leadership and personal courage were of the highest order.’

The 7th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, formed part of 167 Infantry Brigade in the 56th (London) Division. Wiggett’s award was for gallantry in Operation “Light Infantry” in the Enfidaville area of Tunisia 8-10 May 1943. This was the last action of the North African campaign, the Germans surrendering on 13 May.