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An Important Collection of Awards to the SAS and Special Forces A rare Second World War D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant Frank Hughes, Royal Artillery and 2nd Special Air Service Regiment Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (850427 L.Sjt. F. Hughes, S.A.S.R.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, very fine (6) Footnote D.C.M. London Gazette 29 September 1945: 850427 Cpl. Frank Hughes, 2nd Special Air Service Regiment. ‘Cpl Hughes was in command of a party of three men which was dropped by parachute on the night 17/18 August 1944 between the rivers Seine and Risle with the object of harassing the enemy’s withdrawal and causing confusion on his lines of retreat. Any petrol target was to be treated as top priority. On 19th August Cpl Hughes observed enemy vehicles filling up with petrol from a dump near Elbeuf. Leaving his two men to give covering fire if necessary, Cpl Hughes moved up alone to the dump and placed an explosive charge in position. This charge was seen to detonate two hours later, completely destroying the dump. A little later this NCO successfully destroyed an ammunition dump, killing a number of the enemy who were guarding it. On another occasion this NCO received information that an 88 mm gun towed by a truck was in position close to a road. He decided to attack this, and under the covering fire of his two men he advanced sufficiently close to the position to throw two Mills grenades. Those of the enemy who were unharmed deserted the gun, which Cpl Hughes captured intact. Finally, on 25th August, this NCO contacted a Canadian patrol to whom he handed over 14 prisoners and was able to give the officer in charge a chart of enemy minefields in that immediate area. Throughout this operation this NCO showed high personal courage, initiative and daring besides a determination to cause damage and casualties to the enemy at every possible opportunity. His conduct is worthy of the highest praise.’ One of only ten D.C.M’s gazetted to the Special Air Service Regiment, including ‘L’ Detachment, during the Second World War. Frank Peter Hughes was born in Liverpool on 3 April 1918, and enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery on 4 September 1935. He served with the British Expeditionary Force on the Belgian frontier from September 1939 until 12 May 1940. When retreating with the 2nd Divsion to the chaos of Dunkirk, he carried out orders to ‘scuttle’ his Troop’s guns. He then somewhat reluctantly obeyed a passing officer’s order to join the infantry holding the perimeter. Having fought through German lines on several occasions, he finally crossed the Channel on 1 June 1940. On the formation of the 1st Airborne Division in 1941 he volunteered for parachute training and served in the UK until going to North Africa in May 1943. In November 1943 Hughes volunteered for the 2nd SAS and, returning to the UK in March 1944 underwent further training in Scotland. Shortly after the Normandy landings, Hughes was selected for participation in Operation TRUEFORM as the NCO in charge of a three-man team known as ‘F’ Party, which was dropped behind German lines in northern France on the night of 17/18 August 1944. Splitting up from the other teams, Hughes led his men north to a wood five miles from the DZ and waited till dawn. On the 19th he saw German vehicles being refuelled at a petrol dump near ‘El Boeuf’, and unobserved placed 15 lbs of PHE bombs in its midst. The bombs exploded on cue at 1300 hrs, initiating a hunt by the SS. Hughes took refuge in a wood to the south and later in the afternoon met a Free French unit, who told him part of the wood was occupied by German troops. Notwithstanding their presence, Hughes stayed put, and on the 21st made contact with the local Resistance who gave him the location of an ammunition dump on the Harcourt road which was duly blown up by Hughes after a brief firefight. On the 22nd Hughes received orders by courier to attack German transport