Beschreibung:

A fine Second War ‘Special Forces’ M.M. group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Richard Higham, 1st Special Air Service Regiment, Special Raiding Squadron and King’s Own Royal Regiment, who won his M.M. for rescuing three of his wounded comrades whilst under heavy machine gun fire during ‘Operation Baytown’, the raid led by the legendary Lieutenant Colonel Blair Mayne to capture the Italian Town and Port of Bagnara on 4 September 1943 - a veteran of S.A.S. operations in Africa, Italy and North West Europe where he was reported wounded and briefly missing in May 1945, Higham went on to receive a mention in despatches for gallant and distinguished services with the S.A.S. (Malayan Scouts) in Malaya in 1952 Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3711552 Pte., King’s Own R.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Malaya, with M.I.D. oak leaf (3711552 Pte., King’s Own R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, with 8th Army bar; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; together with corresponding miniatures and a King’s Own Regiment cap badge, the G.S.M. with official correction to part of service number and surname, contact wear overall, otherwise generally about nearly very fine (16) £20000-25000 Footnote M.M. London Gazette 13 January 1944. The original recommendation submitted by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne states: ‘During operations at Bagnara on the 4th September 1943 while crossing a road which was enfiladed and swept by machine gun fire three men were wounded and fell in the middle of the road unable to move. Several attempts were made to reach these wounded but the heavy enemy machine gun fire drove them back. Private Higham, however, using a small gutter crawled up the road and although each time he appeared heavy fire was brought down on him he brought the wounded back one by one.’ The following in relation to the raid on Bagnara is extracted from the book, Paddy’s Men: The History of The Special Raiding Squadron, by Stewart McLean: ‘The raiders began making preparations for their next task which was to be yet another amphibious landing under the codename of Operation Baytown, in which the Squadron’s objectives were to capture, occupy and hold Bagnara Calabria, a small town on Italy’s west coast. If the landings were succesful the Squadron was then to advance and prevent the enemy from destroying any of the important bridges or installations that could delay the main forces, which were to follow up.’ The landing was made in the early hours of 4 September 1943 and met with no immediate opposition, however this was soon to change: ‘The men of ‘B’ and ‘C’ Sections of No. 1 Troop met with a deadly onslaught of heavy machine-gun and mortar fire. Two soldiers from the sections were caught by the fierce fire and killed outright while seven others received serious wounds. Some men, having seen what had just happened, tried to move up and rescue their comrades from what was turning into a very serious situation. The dead and wounded were lying in the middle of the road where they had fallen and the enemy machine gunners continued to pour fire into them. The Germans realised instantly what the others were trying to do when they spotted their movements and laid down an even heavier barrage onto the road. Brave and undoubtedly committed as they were, the ferocity and accuracy of the enemy fire forced them to retreat. One man, Private Richard Higham, however, felt that he had spotted a solution to the problem when he noticed a small gutter that ran alongside the road. He knew instinctively that there was no time to waste and so decided not to wait for any help. Acting alone, he took his chance and by using the gutter as cover was able to crawl up alongside the casualties. Private Higham showed total disregard for the continuous enemy fire thrown at him and managed to bring the wounded and dead back one by one...’ M.I.D. London Gazette 1 May 1953. An original typed copy of the recommendation for this award signed by Maj