Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 198

The General Service Medal awarded to Trooper T. Lang, The Royal Scots Greys, Royal Armoured Corps, who was twice wounded in action - the second of these during Operation 'Bluecoat' in the Falaise Pocket - during the Second World War

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (408946 Tpr. T. Lang, The Greys.), contact marks, very fine

T. Lang served in Palestine with The Royal Scots Greys and thence with that unit during the Second World War. Lang was wounded on the first occasion on 16 September 1943. The unit War Diary for that day reports:

'At 07.30 hrs a message was received that enemy tanks and infantry were attacking the infantry on the left of the Bde front. B Sqn were still in last night’s position. A Sqn remained in farm (R)N 810155 while C Sqn moved to cross roads (R)N 799221 and RHQ to St LUCIA (R)N 808207. The Sqn of 44 Recce Regt who were holding the centre were forced to withdraw. C Sqn was then ordered to do sweep over the bridge (R)N 800221 with objective at crossroads (R)N 818219. This was successfully carried out although they turned back to St. LUCIA just short of the objective. Lt J Howard’s tank and crew are missing, the tank believed knocked out but the crew are hoped to be safe.

The following enemy equipment was also destroyed: 3 Mk IV Specials, 1 Armd Car, 1 x 75mm gun, 1 x 37 A/T gun and one half tracked vehicle.

The infantry report that 200 Germans were killed. At 16.00 hrs “A” Sqn with a patrol of carriers from Recce Regt were ordered to move forward from the farm towards the main road at (R)N 833138 to mop up any enemy that might have advanced with the other flank. Soon after they started a message was received that the enemy had withdrawn to their original position and A Sqn then returned to the farm. B Sqn on the arrival of C Sqn at the crossroads 799221 were moved to the right flank where they attacked enemy guns and tanks in area (R)N 814205. By 19.00 hrs everything seemed back to normal with our infantry occupying their normal positions. The Recce tp under Capt. O.C. Berger successfully pushed forward in the centre sector and re-established the original infantry line at about 14.00 hrs. The Regt spent the night as follows: A Sqn in positions at farm (R)N 810195, B Sqn in position along canal from (R)N 805210 to crossroads 799221. RHQ & C Sqn in reserve at 806208.'

It seems possible that Lang was in the tank of Lieutenant Howard that was knocked out. Either way, he re-joined his unit in March 1944. They landed firstly on D+1 and were into the thick of the action. The Greys found themselves at the Battle of Caen and in the fighting for Hill 112. Lang was wounded for the second time during Operation 'Bluecoat' in the Falaise Pocket on 30 July 1944. His wounds were severe enough that he would be discharged on 29 December 1944 being unfit (Para 390 (XVI) K.R.); sold together with copied R.A.C. tracer card and research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£240

Starting price
£100