A Second War 1944 ‘immediate’ attack on the Gustav Line M.M. awarded to Fusilier J. Devine, The Royal Fusiliers, who despite receiving a bullet wound to the face, 13 May 1944, volunteered to carry messages over bullet-swept open ground on five separate occasions

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6475418 Fsr. J. Devine. R. Fus.) mounted on investiture brooch, darkly toned, good very fine £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 26 October 1944:

‘During the Company advance from the area of the banks of the R. Gari on 13 May ‘44 to the German posns at the top of the hill overlooking the Gari, the Coy. came under heavy cross MG fire and suffered 75% casualties; all the officers in the Coy. were casualties. CSM Smith then took command of the Coy, and, having no other communication, called for a volunteer to get across the flat ground to the leading pls. Fusilier Devine, although wounded in the arm the day previously, volunteered and went across the stretch of 70 yds to the right hand pl. This ground was bullet swept and Fusilier Devine was wounded over the right eye by a bullet when fired at whilst returning to Coy HQ. The Sgt Major again called for a volunteer and Fusilier Devine again offered to get a message fwd; in all he went fwd 5 times to the leading elements of the Coy, on each occasion he was fired at. Eventually he had to be ordered back to the RAP for evacuation.

James Devine was a native of Dundee, and served during the Second War with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers in the Italian theatre of War.