Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘North West Europe’ M.M. group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Class II E. A. Giles, Royal West Surrey Regiment, later Somerset Light Infantry

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5670092 L. Sjt. E. A. Giles. The Queen’s R.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya, second clasp unofficially affixed (5670092 W.O. Cl.2. E. Giles. M.M. Queens.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army, with Second Award Bar (5670092 W.O. Cl.2. E. A. Giles. (M.M.) Som. L.I.) unit partially officially corrected; Army Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (LS/5670092 S. Sgt. E. A. Giles. MM. LI.) mounted as worn, good very fine and better (8) £1,200-£1,600

M.M. London Gazette 21 December 1944:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’

The original Recommendation, for an Immediate M.M., dated 13 August 1944, states: ‘After the successful attack by the Battalion during the night of 2/3 August 1944 on Point 188 and Le Manoir, Corporal Giles took forward a Recce Patrol to La Lande, one mile beyond the Battalion's objective, and brought back essential information concerning the state of an important bridge, and valuable reports on enemy movement in that area. During the course of the heavy enemy counter-attack that afternoon which was supported by a number of tanks, the order was given for his Company to withdraw to a new position to protect a gap in the right flank of the Battalion position, and Corporal Giles successfully withdrew his section, and he personally dragged and carried back a severely wounded member of his section over about five hundred yards of open country under intense mortar, artillery and machine gun fire from the enemy tanks and infantry. During the whole course of this action Corporal Giles showed magnificent leadership and initiative together with a complete disregard for his own personal safety.’