A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment

A Second War M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant F. Boothman, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, who at the capture of Kervenheim, Germany, went to the aid of casualties despite extremely intense gun-fire and succeeded in bringing in the wounded men at great risk to himself, 1 March 1945

Military Medal G.VI.R. (4348892 Sjt. F. Boothman. Linc. R.) with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, about extremely fine (5) £1,000-£1,400

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 21 June 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe.’

The original Recommendation, for an immediate award, states: ‘On March 1st 1945 this NCO, normally a Carrier Platoon NCO, was attached to “A” Company 2 Lincolns as an additional stretcher bearer NCO for the operation connected with the capture of Kervenheim, in conjunction with 1 Royal Norfolks. During the advance to the village one platoon of the Company suffered several casualties from German machine gun fire whilst crossing an exposed length of road. Sjt Boothman with his fellow Stretcher Bearers went to the aid of these casualties immediately, although the machine gun fire was extremely intense, and he had previously been told to wait until the firing thinned. At great risk to himself, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he succeeded in bringing in the wounded men. For his bravery coolness and fine example to his fellow Stretcher Bearers I strongly recommend this NCO be granted an immediate award of the Military Medal.’

From the withdrawal of the BEF in France and Belgium in 1940 (which saw around 75% of the battalion captured at Poperinge) and the evacuation at Dunkirk, to the 1944 Normandy landings, Caen, the Normandy Bocage and the campaign through Belgium and Holland, the 2nd Battalion The Lincolnshire Regiment had, by early 1945, seen more fighting in the Second World War than most British Army battalions. Crossing from Holland into Germany, the 2nd Lincolns were to be next engaged in Operation Veritable, the clean up of the last remaining pockets of German resistance in the area west of the Rhine. On 1 March 1945, with other infantry, the 2nd Lincolns took part in the night capture of the village of Kervenheim; it was here on this day that Pte. J. Stokes, 2nd KSLI, won a posthumous Victoria Cross for his conspicuous gallantry in launching three consecutive attacks on German strongpoints until brought down by his wounds. The 2nd Lincolns suffered several casualties of their own and had little time for rest or food before, just the following afternoon, they were ordered into attack again, the objective this time being the village of Winnekendonk, about 2 miles south of Kervenheim, which they famously took with a frontal attack across open country. It was two successful battles within the space of 24 hours for the battalion and the regimental history appears not to distinguish between them as regards the awarding of honours.

The History of the 10th Foot 1919-1950 by Major-General J. A. A. Griffin D.S.O. recounts the assault on Winnekendonk and concludes by attributing Boothman’s M.M. award also to this action:
‘Immediately the Battalion emerged from the cover of the woods, which had screened the start line, it met heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank, combined with considerable mortar and shell-fire. Anti-tank guns of varying calibres concentrated on the tanks, and the battle was on. One Churchill was knocked out, another had its turret blown off. A third accounted for the S.P. gun causing the damage. Two German Mark IV tanks were also destroyed. Twelve hundred yards of open ground had to be crossed before the cover of buildings was reached, and the Battalion surged forward under pitiless fire. Many fell including Major P. H. W. Clarke, M.C., killed by a grenade as he moved from platoon to platoon cheering on his men, but the remainder did not waiver. By twenty minutes past six the road junction at the near approach to the village had been reached. But still the parachutists fought back grimly. Snipers fired from first floor windows, and Spandaus shot through loopholes made in the walls at ground level.
Now the light was going fast, and the infantry and tanks went into the village in billows of smoke, punctuated by orange flashes of the enemy 88’s, and criss-crossed in all directions by red lines of tracer. It was a great and terrible spectacle. By this time the Battalion had really got its teeth in and was not to be denied, and while Battalion Headquarters itself was fighting its way into a house, the leading company had reached the centre of the town. “C” Company headquarters, with Major G. C. A. Gilbert, M.C., in charge, found a Boche bazooka team stalking through the back gardens towards them. They held their fire until the leading man was only five yards away and then let fly. Eight Germans met sudden death.
Savage fighting continued until the parachutists had had enough. It is reckoned that thirty were killed and fifty wounded; eighty surrendered, and the following morning, when the village was finally cleared, seventy more gave themselves up.
The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Firbank, received a bar to his D.S.O. for this action, and Captain P. Smith, who was twice wounded during the battle and was evacuated, much to his disgust, the second time, was awarded an M.C. Sergeant Nicholson of “B” Company, Sergeant Boothman of “S” Company, Corporal Spye of “D” Company and Private Connor of “C” Company were all awarded the M.M.’