Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War, North Africa, M.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant C. F. Rudkin, 4th and 6th Battalions, Lincolnshire Regiment, who at Sedjenane, Tunisia, on 4th March 1943, with limited equipment, dealt with all casualties working tirelessly under shell and mortar fire. He died during the Italian Campaign on 5 January 1944

Military Medal G.VI.R. (4792258 Cpl. C. F. Rudkin. Linc. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial, with 2 Additional Award Bars (4792258 Pte C. F. Rudkin. 4-Linc. R.) minor official correction to surname on last; nearly extremely fine (7) £1,200-£1,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment.

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M.M. London Gazette 22 April 1943:
‘For distinguished services in North Africa.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘At Sedjenane in North Africa on 4th March, 1943, the Regimental Aid Post in a tunnel had been cut off by the enemy during the previous night. Corporal Rudkin was the only trained medical N.C.O. available. With limited equipment, he dealt with all casualties working tirelessly under shell and mortar fire. It was largely due to his efforts that it was possible to evacuate all the wounded, thereby saving lives. His conduct and bearing were outstanding at a critical period of the action.’

Charles Frederick Lipscombe Rudkin was born at Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire, on 3 June 1901, later resided at Stamford, Lincolnshire. He served with 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment during the Second World War and was decorated for gallantry at the Battle of Sedjanane, Tunisia in March 1943.

The town of Sedjanane became of strategic importance during the allied invasion of North Africa. Following the initial landings of Operation Torch, the Allied run for Tunis was halted by German Paratroops in the hills east of the town in November 1942. As Alan Moorehead recorded in African Trilogy: ‘Sedjenane was a wayside railway town in the wet cork forests on the way to Mateur. Whoever held Mateur held Bizerta, and whoever held Green and Bald Hills outside Sedjenane held Mateur’.
A stalemate ensued which was broken by the Germans with the Operation Oschenkopf offensive (Battle of Sidi Nsir). In a subsidiary operation, Unternehman Ausladung, starting on the morning of 26 February 1943, the Axis attempted to outflank the British troops in Sedjanane. The 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment; several Churchill tanks of the North Irish Horse; plus elements of No. 1 Commando and the 16th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, were involved in the defence of the town, which finally fell to the Germans and Italians on 4 March 1943.

Sergeant Rudkin went on to serve in the Italian Campaign with the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. He died on 5 January 1944 and is buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

Sold with M.M. enclosure letter together with original citation from the War Office addressed to the recipient’s widow, Mrs Gladys M. Rudkin, 10 Northumberland Avenue, Stamford, Lincolnshire, dated 13 February 1945.