The Collection of Medals to the Leicester Regiment and Yeomanry formed by the late Trevor Harris

An immediate Second World War Gothic Line operations M.M. group of six awarded to Private A. Shiels, Leicestershire Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3607097 Pte. A. Shiels, Leic. R.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, extremely fine (6) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Leicester Regiment and Yeomanry formed by the late Trevor Harris.

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M.M. London Gazette 8 February 1945. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘At S. Giorgio, Italy on 29 August 1944, ‘C’ Company, 2/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, was ordered to advance by day to probe the enemy positions at the beginning of the Gothic Line. Meeting unexpectedly heavy resistance, the Company was pinned down by fire from enemy mortars and the cross-fire of at least 12 Spandaus. Private Shiels was the Company Runner. Although under continual sniping fire, he volunteered to go forward to locate an officer who had been hit. He himself was not strong enough to bring the officer back. He returned for help and then went out again with another man, and succeeded in bringing in the officer. Throughout the rest of the day, under constant mortar and M.G. fire, Private Shiels carried messages without regard for the danger to his own life. Due in no small measure to his personal courage, the Company was maintained as a fighting entity with a definite grip on the enemy defences, from which they could not be shaken.’