Beschreibung:

A superb Second World War Sicily operations M.M. group of seven awarded to Troop Sergeant-Major E. G. “Lofty” King, Rifle Brigade, attached No. 3 Commando, who was originally recommended for a D.C.M. for his bravery in the successful but costly Commando raid on the Punta Dei Malati in Sicily in July 1943: ‘a hard fellow in many ways’, he knocked out an Italian soldier with a ‘terrific uppercut’ on the day he won his M.M. - he had earlier participated in the Lofoten, Vaagso and Dieppe raids and again went into action on D-Day Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6911407 Sjt. E. G. King, Rif. Brig.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, a little polished and minor contact wear, very fine or better (7) £3000-4000 Footnote M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1943. The original recommendation, reduced from a D.C.M. to an M.M. by Montgomery, states: ‘On the night of 13-14 July 1943, after the landing at Agnone and during the advance to Punta Dei Malati, Sergeant King continually led the H.Q. Party forward under fire quite regardless of his own safety, his only desire being to get forward and engage the enemy. During the fight at Punta Dei Malati, and in the subsequent withdrawal, Sergeant King was continually taking messages and exposing himself under heavy mortar, M.G. and shell fire. He was of the greatest assistance in organising the withdrawal, always remaining with the rear elements. His steadiness had an inspiring effect on all ranks. Sergeant King was also outstanding in the advance and attack on the Cassibile Battery on the night of 9-10 July 1943.’ Edward George “Lofty” King was recommended for his M.M. by Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Brigadier) John Durnford-Slater, D.S.O., the C.O. of No. 3 Commando, and later the author of Commando, Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in World War Two, in which King is mentioned, not least for his part on the daring raid on the Punta Dei Malati in Sicily in July 1943. But it is apparent that he had made his mark in the Commando long before then, or certainly if Durnford-Slater’s description of him is anything to go by at the time of No. 3 Commando’s formation in July 1940: ‘The first intake of officers and men contained all sorts of interesting characters ... Corporal Lofty King of the Rifle Brigade was very tall and very tough. He was a hard fellow in many ways, and very hard with his men; he didn’t give a damn if he knocked a man down. Sometimes I told him he was being too rough; Lofty would say: “It’s good for them, Colonel; it won’t do them any harm.” He would mean it and believe it. He genuinely enjoyed fighting and looked happiest, and indeed inspired, in battle. In the field he was kinder to his men, as if the fighting were a kind of release for him.’ The Lofoten and Vaagso Raids As such a prominent member of No. 3 Commando “Lofty” King was undoubtedly present in the unit’s earlier operations, most notably the raids mounted against the port of Stamsund on the Lofoten Islands in March 1941 and on Vaagso that December - but possibly not in the one-Troop-strong force sent to raid Guernsey as early as July 1940. At Stamsund, the Commando rounded-up several members of the Gestapo, Durnford-Slater spotting King hard at work: ‘Fifteen minutes later I was standing in the doorway when I saw Lofty King and Bill Chitty, both big men and unit military police, forcing a prisoner along betweeen them. Each had one of his arms. Squealing his protests, he looked and sounded like a fat pig being taken to the slaughter. He wore a dark civilian suit. Lofty King saw me and grinned. “Here’s your top Gestapo boy, Colonel. What do you want done with him?” Behind this ill-matched trio trailed a gang of locals, men, women, children and dogs, jeering, barking, laughing in delight. The Gestapo chap was cursing balefully in German. You didn’t have to understand the language to guess his feelings. I said: “Put him on a landing craft and send him right off to the Beatrix.” ’ Prior