Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second War ‘Evacuation to Dunkirk’ 1940 M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant S. G. Diver, 13th/18th Royal Hussars, who was wounded and taken Prisoner of War in May 1940- he secured his release from captivity by bringing on heart illness ‘by chewing cordite’. Re-joining his unit, he served with them again in North-West Europe, was Mentioned in Despatches, and was killed in action on 19 January 1945

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (406294 Sjt. S. G. Diver. 13/18 H.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, about extremely fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th, 18th and 13th/18th Hussars.

View
Collection

One of only 20 Military Medals awarded to the 13th/18th Royal Hussars during the whole of the Second World War, and the only award for service with the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 (the other 19 all being for service in Normandy and North-West Europe post-D-Day).

The Regiment was awarded three Military Crosses and one Military Medal (Diver’s) for service with the British Expeditionary Force in 1940, and suffered approximately 54 casualties during the campaign and withdrawal from Dunkirk.

M.M. London Gazette 10 March 1942.
The original Recommendation states: ‘On 27 May [1940], during the counter-attack with the Black Watch, he had his tank knocked out by an anti-tank gun. Under heavy machine gun fire he extracted his driver and operator from the disabled tank, although wounded himself. His coolness and bravery got both back to Hospital although the gunner subsequently died. Sergeant Diver was left at Crombeke Hospital and is now prisoner.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 9 August 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North-West Europe.’

Stanley George Diver attested for the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and served with them during the Second World War as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Wounded and taken Prisoner of War, he subsequently managed to negotiated his release. A letter written by one of Diver’s comrades gives the following account:
‘Dibs Diver managed to escape by malingering heart illness by chewing cordite. He managed to convince the Red Cross that he was dying and he was allowed to return to England via Switzerland. The delay in the award of the M.M. occurred because the details were not generally know at the time, and he had been required to supply some of the details himself.’

Re-joining his old unit, Diver served with them again in North-West Europe post-D-Day, being Mentioned in Despatches. He was killed in action during an attack near Waldefeucht on 19 January 1945. The History of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars gives the following account:
‘Meanwhile “C” Squadron on their front ran into stiff resistance shortly after passing the start line on the 19th, and lost five tanks from concealed 88mm guns. Sergeant Diver was killed, but not before he knocked out one S.P. and one tank.’

The exact circumstance of Diver’s death are again summarised by his old comrade:
‘Diver had a premonition that he was going to be killed an when he was, by a single shellburst which exploded over his tank as he climbed out of it in an orchard after a day in action, it appeared that the shell indeed “had his number on it”.’

Diver is buried in Sittard War Cemetery, Holland.

Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.