A Collection of Awards to the Army Service Corps

A Second World War ‘N.W. Europe’ M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Corporal R. N. Hedley, Royal Army Service Corps

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (T.100907 L/Cpl., R.A.S.C.) impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed, good very fine (5) £800-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Army Service Corps.

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M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946.

Recommendation reads: ‘This NCO has been with the RASC Company of the 159 Infantry Brigade for the whole of the North West European campaign. He has always been willing and cheerful and has worked his hardest regardless of fatigue and danger. His work has often involved handling ammunition under shell fire, and on the 8th August 1944 he rescued under fire two wounded drivers of his own Company. As a junior NCO he is an outstanding example of those many men who have always given of their best in hard monotonous and unspectacular work.’

Randolph Noel Hedley was born on 30 December 1915. He was educated at Hexham Grammar School, Northumberland and was employed as a Linotype Operator before the war. During the war he served in the R.A.S.C. from 10 November 1939-25 March 1946. Hedley passed his Glider Pilot entry examination at No. 5 A.C., R.A.F. Doncaster on 9 January 1944. He served in N.W. Europe from 19 June 1944 to 8 January 1946, being released to the Army Reserve on 26 March 1946 and discharged on 4 October 1952. For his services with the R.A.S.C. Company of 159 Brigade in N.W. Europe he was awarded the Military Medal for his outstanding service and bravery in the field.

On demobilization, he returned to his pre-war employment as a Linotype Operator, moving to South Africa in 1949, and to Rhodesia in 1953. In Rhodesia, while continuing his employment as a printer, he became a member of the British South Africa Police Reserve, 1953-68. Hedley died in Cape Town on 4 October 1984.

With a quantity of papers including: 21st Army Group Certificate of Appreciation, to Hedley, 174 Coy. R.A.S.C., dated 22 January 1945, signed by Montgomery; 21st Army Group Certificate of Thanks and Farewell; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Certificate of Registration; several letters of recommendation; Rhodesian Typographical Society membership card; Certificate of Employment; Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Certificate of Service; B.S.A.P. Reserve Discharge Certificate; biographical and service details compiled by the recipient - stating war service in the ‘R.A.S.C. & Airborne (Parachute Regiment and then Glider Pilot Regiment)’; photographs - including a group photograph including Hedley with the note, ‘The 17 survivors of the 2nd Btn. The Parachute Regiment, after Arnhem.’; together with copied service details, recommendation; gazette extracts and other research.