Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall

An immediate award D.C.M. group of six to Sergeant Harry Simpson, 7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, for gallantry at Haalderen during the defence of Nijmegen Bridge

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.VI.R. (4611795 Sjt., D.W.R.); 1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, these last four all privately named; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., with extra long service bar (4611795 Sjt., (D.C.M.), D.W.R.) mounted court style, very fine (6)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall.

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D.C.M., London Gazette, 5 April 1945: 'During a strong enemy attack on Haalderen 7566, a key point in the defence of the Nijmegen Bridge, on 4th December, Sgt. Simpson was in command of a section of carriers which was ordered to place a stop across a line of buildings to halt the enemy house clearing operations. That this difficult mission was soon completed in the darkness was due to Sgt. Simpson's great leadership. Shortly afterwards Sgt. Simpson was told to clear the enemy from a school from which Battalion H.Q. was being threatened. Under the cover of Bren fire, this N.C.O. led three riflemen immediately towards the door of the school in face of concentrated fire of six spandaus. Sgt. Simpson was seriously wounded in the leg and fell out, in spite of great pain, he remained on the ground directing the assault, shouting encouragement and refused to be taken to safety until his men, fired by his great example, rushed the door and forced the Boche garrison of 14 men to surrender. This N.C.O's decision to assault a greatly superior force and the inspiration he gave his men when wounded saved Battalion H.Q. from encirclement, with the eventual result that a counterattack was planned which entirely eliminated the enemy force.'

The following account of the success of the ensuing counter-attack is taken from the 'Iron Duke': 'The complete assaulting force was wiped out. One hundred and ten men, including one C.S.M., were taken prisoner and 50 Boche, and the company commander, two officers and another C.S.M. killed inside the Battalion area. Some of these were drowned in the pond attempting to get out of our Bren fire. Great slaughter must have been inflicted on the remaining enemy companies, forming up 600 to 1,000 yards in front of 'D' Company, by the firing of the D.F's. Among the booty were 25 spandaus and nine bazookas, together with a tremendous amount of small arms dumped in 18 Platoon area. Two German dogs were later found.' A full account of this battle, by Lieut. Col. C.D. Hamilton, D.S.O., commanding 7th D.W.R. at Haalderen, is included with the lot.