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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 In this way all guns remaining in action were successfully withdrawn.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. |
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| Code: 4175Price: £295.00 |
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