Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Sergeant D. Else, South African Artillery

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal; Africa Service Medal, these all officially impressed (13937 D. Else); Efficiency Medal, Union of South Africa, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sgt., Demob Corps) very fine (5) £60-80

Sergeant Delville Else served in the 7th Field Brigade, South African Artillery, from October 1939 until he was severely wounded in action at Msus, Libya, on 23 January 1942. Else received multiple shrapnel wounds, and compound fractures of the right humerus and radius, from the nose cap of a German 77mm shell. He was also wounded in the left foot, had shrapnel in the chest, as well as wounds in the abdomen, neck and both legs (Ref War in the Desert by Neil Orpen). After being evacuated to Tobruk and then back to South Africa, he was eventually discharged from hospital. He subsequently served at the Adjutant-General War Records and later at the Native War Records Section before his discharge in February 1947. Sold with 17 page service record.