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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 583

Six: Lieutenant V. Blyth, 1st Battalion, Transvaal Scottish attached 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, who was seriously wounded in action in Italy on 5 October 1944 by a gun shot wound to the chest

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; South African Service Medal 1939-45, all officially impressed '26848 V. Blyth', good very fine (6)

Victor Blyth was born at Johannesburg, South Africa on 2 November 1918 and worked as a Stores Assistant whilst also joining the Union Defence Force with the 1st Battalion, Transvaal Scottish in 1939. Mobilised on 20 May 1940 as a Sergeant he served in Mombasa with that formation. Posted to Suez in June 1941 he returned to South Africa in October and was transferred to the 1st City Regiment on 25 June 1942 for service in the Madagascar campaign.

He served there until December 1942, the month after the Vichy Regime capitulated and again returned to the Union when he joined a cadet training programme. Commissioned 2 Lieutenant in February 1944 Blyth was seconded to the British Armed Forces and joined the 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters in Italy. Advanced Lieutenant on 8 September 1944 he was still there a month later:

'At 0600 hrs. The reinforcement, a platoon of "A" Company under Lieut. Blyth, having set out without news from "C" Company, were held up by fire half way up the razor-back approach and were forced to dig in in that very exposed position. Then, at 1500 hrs., "A" Company was warned to take part in a night attack on the feature in conjunction with the K.S.L.I.
Accordingly, at dusk, the platoon was withdrawn from their uncomfortable position, and a little later "A" Company advanced up the hill. On arrival at the top the force, under Capt. P. A. Hewitt, found a platoon of K.S.L.I. already there to his left. He immediately organised the defence of the hill on a four-platoon basis. Once again digging in commenced, and once again a ferocious counter-attack was launched from the reverse slopes, organised from the twin hill, which scattered the unfortunate "A" Company in disorder. Capt. Hewitt withdrew his battered force down the hill again. Amongst his casualties were Lieut. Blyth and one of the Company's staunchest men, Pte. Jolley, who was missing with six others. The wounded had to be left behind.'

Blyth was taken to the British Casualty Clearing Station at Borgo San Lorenzo, near Florence, he was reported to have suffered from a gunshot wound to the chest which had fractured his right rib. Discharged on 13 July 1945 he returned to South Africa the next month; sold together with copied service papers.

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Estimate

Starting price
£100