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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 819

Six: Guardsman W. R. Gibb, 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards, later Constable, Air Force Department Constabulary, who was wounded in action during the capture of Frenouville, Normandy as part of Operation Goodwood on 20 July 1944

General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2656858. Gdsmn. W. R. Gibb. C. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (William R. Gibbs= Const.), the campaign awards mounted as worn, the latter in its card box of issue, sold together with original dog tags and certificates of service, good vey fine (6)

William Robert Gibb was born at Morpeth, Newcastle in 1914 and enlisted in that city on 10 January 1935 with the Coldstream Guards. Seeing war service in Palestine from 3 October-30 December 1936 and later in Egypt from 23 November 1937-14 October 1938. He was on Home Service on the outbreak of the Second World War, serving with the 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards. This unit was part of the Guards Armoured Division, formed as a response to the lack of British armour after Dunkirk, entering the war for the first time on 20 June 1944 in Normandy.

The Division was in action almost immediately, around Carpiquet Airfield before being lined up as part of the British efforts at Operation Goodwood around Caen. The offensive quickly ground to a halt in the face of a dug-in an determined enemy, however it did manage to draw a number of German units to the Caen area thus aiding in the American Operation Cobra. Gibbs was wounded in action during the heavy fighting on 20 July 1944, which finally saw the Germans pushed from the village of Frenouville.

His wounds proved severe and he was sent back on 23 July and discharged on 30 January 1945. Having left the military Gibbs took the path often followed by ex-servicemen at the time and joined the police. Here he served with the Air Force Department Constabulary, received his L.S. & G.C. with them; sold together with copied research including casualty list, census data and some printed copies of the Over To You newsheet.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£80