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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 251

27 D.C.M.'s to the Durham Light Infantry.

The unique immediate Primasole Bridge D.C.M. awarded to Company Sergeant-Major F. Thompson, Durham Light Infantry, having already taken a 'mention' for his services, he won his decoration in the unit's iconic action, before being killed in action on 9 August 1943

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (4455800 A/W.O.Cl.II. F. Thompson. Durh. L.I.), on its original pin; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine

For the action at Primasole Bridge, the unit took a remarkable 4 M.C.'s, with 1 Second Award Bar and 16 M.M.'s - Thompson took the sole D.C.M. for his remarkable efforts.

D.C.M. London Gazette 21 October 1943. The original recommendation for an immediate award, approved by General Alexander, states:

' C.S.M. Thompson, 'C' Coy. 9 D.L.I. crossed the River Simeto during the daylight attack on the Primosole Bridge on July 17th with Coy. HQ immediately behind the leading platoons.

As soon as they set foot on the far bank they were attacked by Germans on all sides. During the hand-to-hand fighting the Coy. Cmdr. disappeared and both Pl. Cmdrs. became casualties. C.S.M. Thompson took charge.

He organised the Pls. so that they fought off all efforts of the enemy to overrun his Coy. Finally, realising that they could not hold their ground, he skilfully arranged their withdrawal back across the river so that they suffered the minimum casualties. During the night attack on July 18/19th on the same position C.S.M. Thompson took charge of a portion of his Coy. who became very split up owing to well-hidden enemy strong-points in the vineyards. When dawn came his small party were taking cover with most of Bn. HQ in a ditch only 100 yds. from an enemy strong- point in No Mans Land where they were being shot up badly by both sides. C.S.M. Thompson volunteered to crawl 200 yds. back to get a smoke screen put down. So successful was the smoke screen that all the force got back without further loss.

C.S.M. Thompson has at all times shown most distinguished and brave conduct in the field. Always cool, calm and full of zeal, he is an inspiration to the Bn. in battle.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 January 1944.

Frederick Thompson was a native of Chopwell, County Durham and born circa 1920. By the time of the Second World War, he was serving as a Company Sergeant-Major with the Durham Light Infantry. Having earned a 'mention', taken his D.C.M. for the famous Primasole Bridge action, he was killed in action on 9 August 1943. Thompson is buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily; sold together with his Buckingham Palace Memorial Scroll, official Notification of Death, besides a personal letter to his parents from William Whiteley, the local Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury.

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Estimate
£4,000 to £6,000

Starting price
£3200