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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 517

(x) A World War Two Long Service group of six to Captain C. W. J. Cory, Royal Marines, who was in one of the first units to land in Norway in 1940 as part of 'Operation Henry' and additionally was the owner of "Bing" the Para Dog who was at the centre of confusion over the award of the Dickin Medal

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (CH. 24298 C. W. J. Cory. Cr. Sgt. R.M.), very fine (6)

Cyril William John Cory was born 13 May 1907 in Stanhoe, Norfolk enlisted 18 February 1924 intially with with number 681 into the Royal Marines, Corporal 9 September 1929, Sergeant 14 June 1934, Colour Sergeant 7 March 1939 and was on Sheffield 27 June 1939 to 24 October 1941. At the outbreak of war, Sheffield served with the 18th Cruiser Squadron, patrolling the Denmark Straits and then, in April 1940, she was engaged in the Norwegian Campaign as part of Operation Henry along with 350 Royal Marines on 13 April 1940 in Namos on West side of Norway, under W. F. Captain Edds. Qualified for his long service medal on 13 May 1940 as a Colour Sergeant. After a short spell carrying out anti-invasion duties in the English Channel, she joined Force H, based in Gibraltar. During that time, she operated in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic until the year's end and took part in Operation White and the battle of Cape Spartivento. In 1941, she participated in Operation Grog, the shelling of Genoa, in operations against Vichy convoys and supporting air reinforcements to Malta. In May, Sheffield took part in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck, narrowly escaping a friendly fire torpedo attack by the aircraft carrier Ark Royal's Fairey Swordfish; Eleven torpedoes were dropped and only defective Duplex exploders and fine ship handling saved her from disaster. In the report of the attack, Admiral Sir John Tovey, commanding Home Fleet, was told only no hits were scored on Bismarck. The reaction of Sheffield's crew "has not made its way into the official records". On 12 June, she located and sank one of Bismarck's tankers, Friedrich Breme. After the destruction in early October 1941 of another German supply ship, Kota Penang, (aided by the cruiser Kenya), Sheffield returned to Britain. 26 October 1941 Company Sergeant Major and after H.M.S. Sheffield he was in the Mobile Battalion of the Royal Marine Division. 2 March 1944 commissioned Lieutenant later Temporary Captain 17 November 1945. 13 March 1946 to Royal Marine Transit Battalion, Moore Park, 21 October 1946 Acting Captain Manning Fort, Devonport and released from the Royal Marines 17 May 1948. In later life he was the Landlord of a Public House. Died 13 November 1991 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

The Para Dogs Confusion of the Dickin Medal

Cory had an Alsatian called Bing, he was sold to the army to be part of the permanent staff of the War Dog School, he was in the 13th Battalion Parachute Regiment and landed in a tree injuring himself on D-Day 6 June 1944, he was rescued the next day and recovered soon after. There were other dogs in the Battalion and he was the only one that could cope with the constant bombing and shelling. He would often spot the Enemy by freezing like a pointer. Apparently he wore his wings on his collar, soon after Normandy he retuned to United Kingdon and returned to Germany for the crossing of the Rhine and jumped on 24 March 1945 for Operation Varsity, it was on this jump one dog was killed and Bing sniffed out two German Army Alsatians who he managed to recruit to the 13th Battalion. Believed to be recommended for the Dickin Medal, however not being privately owned meant he was not eligible. The confusion arose as there was another Alsatian in the 13th who was called Brian, the names seem to have been intermixed. Even now one of them is still mentioned on the Downing Street Website, a stuff dog in the Airborne Assault Museum, Duxford and mentioned in a children's book called "The Amazing Adventures of Bing the Parachuting Dog" was published in 2012. The Dickin Medal was bought in 1996, another turned up ten years for sale named to Brian, further research would show whether the first was named to Bing or Brian. A metal sculpture only last year was made in honour of the dog and even now still being referred to "Bing who was originally named Brian". For a full read of the matter a thorough article was written in September 2105 on the Pets in Peril Website called "The Brian Identity": https://petsinperil.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/the-brian-identity/
With copied service papers confirming medal entitlement.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate

Starting price
£70