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British Officers Peaked Cap And Field Service Cap Attributed To Lt Col T J Tirrell MC & 2 Bars, DCM
Two items of headdress attributed to Lt Col Thomas Joseph Tirrell a very gallant officer in the British army. The first is a standard British officers service dress peaked cap made by Herbert Johnson London. The cap has officers bronzed cap badge of the Royal Artillery. The sweatband has the initials T J T punched inside. Complete with the original sweatband. The other item is Royal Horse Artillery officers field service cap complete with bullion badge of the RHA. Very nice condition with Herbert Johnson makers mark to the inside. Both hats belonged to Lt Col Tirrell who served throughout WW2 with the Royal Artillery and one a Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1940 during the battle of France whilst a warrant officer, Military Cross in North Africa in 1942, A Bar to the MC in North Africa and then a 2nd bar to the MC for an action in North West Europe in 1945 which was originally a recommendation for an immediate Distinguished Service Order. The Citations for the awards are as follows:

DCM "He did outstanding work as gun position officer of L Troop. On the Mont des Oats on May 29 he continued to control a gun under heavy and accurate fire. After all the detachment had been wounded, he went on to the gun himself and continued to fire."

Military Cross "On June 2 1942 at El Tamar his battery was attacked by 80 German tanks. When enemy tanks were within 40 yards of the battery the order was given to withdraw. Capt Tirrell interposed his own tank successively between the enemy and each gun in order to allow each to limber up under cover. In this way all guns remaining in action were successfully withdrawn. Had Capt Tirrell's tank been hit he and his crew would have stood very little chance of getting away. Throughout the fighting of this last six months Capt Tirrell has consistently acted with similar gallantry. At the observation post he has inflicted very heavy damage. His conduct has been an inspiration not only to his own battery but to the armoured regiment with whom he has been co-operating.

Bar To Military Cross "Capt Tirrell has been a troop commander throughout the recent operations. His work at the observation post has been outstanding, resulting in the knocking out of at least 12 enemy anti-tank guns, including five 88mm guns, the silencing of three enemy batteries, and the capture intact of one battery of guns. Capt Tirrell has also on several occasions saved the armoured regiment with which he was working from serious casualties. On morning of October 24th, when owing to heavy anti-tank and machine gun fire it became necessary to withdraw through a narrow gap in the enemy minefield, Capt Tirrell made two trips through the mines with his tank carrying the wounded to safety. On one of these trips 18 badly wounded men were saved. On Nov 2nd 1942 a tank of the light squadron was disabled by anti-tank fire. Capt Tirrell took his own tank in, picked up the officer from the disabled tank and carried him to safety. Capt Tirrell was able to locate the gun which had caused the damaged and later neutralised it. On the same day he neutralised two 88mm guns, one 50mm anti-tank gun and one howitzer battery, in addition to assisting in the capture of a second howitzer battery and causing heavy casualties to the enemy by well directed harassing fire. Capt Tirrell silenced two enemy batteries which had come to action in the open. By doing so he enabled our forces to take the Fulka escarpment almost without loss. Capt Tirrell work has been beyond all praise and has very materially contributed to our present victory.

2nd Bar To Military Cross January 1945 in North West Europe "During the night of Jan 17 1945 Major Tirrell, commanding D Battery RHA, was in close support of the 1/5th Battalion Queens for their attack on Susteren. To get to their start line the battalion had to cross the half completed bridges between Bakenhoven and Dieteren. A heavy enemy counter attack developed in the bridge area, holding up the advance of 1/5 Queens. Major Tirrell moved out under heavy fire and positioned himself in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. He then gave orders to bring down the fire of the regiment on to the leading enemy infantry, who were by this time within 200 yards of his vehicle. He continued to direct the fire from his vehicle. The enemy counter attack was broken up, with very heavy casualties, and the 1/5 Queens were able to continue their advance. While on the start line for their attack on Susteren the enemy were being fired upon a short range by a self propelled gun. Major Tirrell moved forward to a position where he could observe this gun and despite casualties around him continued to bring down fire until the gun was put out of action.

Thomas Joseph Tirrell, who was known as Jack was born in 1910. At 17 he enlisted in the army as a trumpeter and served in India before the Second World War. He served in France, North Africa, Italy, Greece and North West Europe. After the war he served with the 3rd Royal Horse Artillery in Germany and Hong Kong. He was seconded to the Arab legion for three years. After that he was with the 38 training regiment at Kinmel North Wales, until he retired.
 
Code: 4175Price: £295.00

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Attributed WW2 Welsh Guards Officers Uniform Set - Wounded On The Push To Close Falais Gap August 1944
Set consisting of tailor made guards pattern service dress tunic and trousers with tailors label. Named to 2nd Lt Hon David Rhys with the date 30/10/39. Metal rank insignia for captain, Welsh Guards regimental buttons and ribbons for 1939-45 star, France and Germany star, Defence medal and 1937 coronation medal. 1937 pattern battle dress jacket and trousers with dated label 1940. Woven regimental titles for Welsh Guards, medal ribbons (same as on service dress), the collar has been slightly modified to wear a shirt and tie. Guards armoured division insignia to the arms. His surname is also inked to the inside.

David Rhys came from a very important Welsh family, his father being 7th Baron of Dynevor. He was educated at Eaton in the 1930's and joined the Welsh Guards at the outbreak of WW2. Eventually being posted to the 1st battalion, part of 32nd infantry division and after training in the UK they landed in France at the end of June 1944. Rhys commanded the mortar platoon of S Coy and was wounded on the push to close the Falais gap at the beginning of August. The unit returned to the UK in the spring of 1945 and took on a training role. An interesting uniform group attributed to an officer who was wounded in one of the major operations in the post D-Day landings.

 
Code: 4174Price: £650.00

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WW2 48th Highlanders Of Canada Full Battle Dress Uniform
Super full battle dress uniform group consisting of Canadian made 1937 pattern battle dress blouse which has makers stamp and date 1942 to the inside. The battle dress has insignia to the arm including shoulder titles for the 48th Highlanders of Canada, tartan flash with red felt strip (Gordon Highlanders), Highland Division insignia and two red strips underneath. To the lower part of the arm are three brass wound stripes. Medal ribbon bar for 1939-45 star, Italy Star, France & Germany star and Canadian Voluntary service medal with maple leaf. Cloth majors rank crown to the shoulders. With the jacket is Canadian made battle dress trousers which are in near mint condition. Maker stamp to inside and dated 1944. Wound dressing pocket and map pocket to the legs. Uniform comes with its 1940 dated tam o'shanta which has its white metal badge on tartan backing for the 48th Highlanders. The unit was involved heavily in operations in Italy, taking part in most of the major actions. In 1945 they moved to the campaign in North West Europe where they were involved in much of the heavy fighting through Germany until the end of the war.

I have been given the following information: this is a CANLOAN officer, attached to the Gordon Highlanders in 153 Brigade, 51st Highland Div. Some British units had a shortage of officers and the Canadians had spare so many junior officers were loaned to British units, hence the term 'CanLoan'
 
Code: 4173Price: £585.00

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Battle Dress Blouse 2nd Essex 56th Independent Brigade
Battle dress blouse complete with insignia for a Major in the Essex regiment. The battle dress has separate combination insignia patch which has printed Essex regiment shoulder titles, divisional insignia for the 49th division, felt red bar, felt purple bar and the sphinx insignia of the 56th independent brigade. The BD is an officers open collar 1940 pattern example. The label to the inside has faded but you can still see the date of 1942, it has inked on the label Maj Brown. A couple of very minor moth nips on the BD but otherwise a nice condition example. The 2nd Essex(the Pompadours) were part of 56(Sphinx) Independent Brigade which was used as additional support for 50th Div on D-Day and in the Normandy campaign until August. 49 Div had heavy casualties in Normandy and one of their brigades was disbanded, 56 took its place for the rest of the campaign. A scarce battle dress blouse.
 
Code: 4172Price: £685.00

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WW2 War Office R.A.O.C Battle Dress
Private purchase British officers battle dress jacket with Royal Army Ordnance Corps Insignia to the arm. Staff officers collar insignia. Colonels Rank pips and crown to the shoulders. To the breast is medal ribbons of MBE, 1939-45 star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and General service medal. To the inside is inked Corl Shine. A nice quality battle dress blouse.
 
Code: 4171Price: £165.00

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Luftwaffe Officers Pilots Badge In Cloth
Mint condition Luftwaffe officers pilots badge in cloth. Heavy bullion to the award. The badge has makers label to the reverse of F Schmitt Stoff-Effekten. You would struggle to find a better example than this one.
 
Code: 4170Price: £285.00

Afrika Korps Photograph Album
German WW2 photograph album consisting of over 140 photographs taken during the campaign in North Africa. The photographs show various subjects including locals, troops in tropical uniforms, captured British soldiers, Aircraft etc. The photograph has been well written up and comes with typed details. The album is attributed to a workshop company in panzer division supply services 200 21st Panzer division. The front of the album has the Italian - German north africa medal ribbon. Many interesting shots.
 
Code: 4169Price: £465.00

Panzer Afrika Korps Photograph Album
Third Reich photograph album attributed to Obergefreiter Gerd Mordhorst who served with the 5th Panzer regiment which was in the 21st Panzer division part of the German Afrika Korps. The album has over 290 photographs most of which have been taken in North Africa. The photographs are very detailed and show troops wearing various forms of uniform and equipment, usual local scenes, one photograph of captured British soldiers. Towards the end of the album are photographs of him in his black panzer wrap over uniform. With the album is a typed history of the unit and some photocopies of details on the original owner. To the inside front cover of the album is his Afrika with palms cuff title and a photograph of Rommel.
 
Code: 4168Price: £495.00

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Panzer Post Card Photograph
Studio produced post card photograph showing a Panzer troop wearing black wrap over wearing side cap. On his shoulder boards are the number 11. Nice image.
 
Code: 4167Price: £25.00

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DLV Belt Buckle
Scarce early DLV pattern other ranks belt buckle. Complete with all the fixings on the reverse. Good condition overall.
 
Code: 4166Price: £95.00
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