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Auction: 9004 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 928

A Fine Second World War Immediate ´Battle of Anzio´ M.M. to Private W.E.L. Nairn, York and Lancaster Regiment, Who Received Multiple Wounds Whilst Trying to Rescue His Patrol Commander From a Hidden Mine Field; After Being Blown Up By Four Mines Himself, He Escaped Capture By Crawling For Two and a Half Hours Back to Allied Lines Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2766058 Pte. W.E.L. Nairn. Y.&L.R.), good very fine Estimate £ 600-800 M.M. London Gazette 20.7.1944 No. 2766058 Private William Edward Lawson Nairn, The York and Lancaster Regiment (Forfar) ´´In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.´´ The Recommendation, dated 7.4.1944, states: ´´On March 31 1944, on the Anzio beachhead, Pte. Nairn was detailed as a member of a small patrol to penetrate the German lines under cover of darkness, locate their positions and if opportunity offered to capture a prisoner. During the course of the patrol and while within the enemy lines, the patrol entered a small uncharted minefield and the patrol commander who was leading was killed. Pte. Nairn, showing great presence of mind immediately took command and ordering the other two members of the patrol to cover him, crawled forward to where the patrol commander lay. On finding that he was dead he started to return to the others but in doing so exploded four mines which seriously wounded him with multiple injuries in the foot, legs, stomach, face and arms and slightly injured the other two. Seeing that nothing further could be done, Pte. Nairn ordered the others to withdraw and they set out carrying him between them. At 0200 hrs after going some distance and avoiding two parties of Germans, they were stopped by 2 sentries who ordered them in English to lay down their arms and marched off the two slightly wounded men saying that they would bring back a stretcher party for Pte. Nairn, who was left lying on the ground. As soon as they were gone, Pte. Nairn with a complete disregard for his wounds and despite the great pain which he was suffering, started to crawl back to his company position. After two and a half hours he succeeded in reaching our wire, but then he failed to attract the attention of the sentries and it was not until after daylight at 0900 hrs that he was seen and brought in. It was entirely due to Pte. Nairn´´s magnificent courage and sense of duty that very valuable information of the enemy´´s dispositions was obtained. Had he allowed himself to be captured and receive the medical attention which his wounds demanded no news of this patrol could possible have reached us.´´

Sold for
£2,800