A fine North West Europe M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant J. Carpenter, Pioneer Corps

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (13054015 A.W.O.Cl.2, Pioneer C.); 1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence & War Medals, minor correction to number, otherwise good very fine (5) £350-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Pioneer Corps from the Collection of the late Peter Wilks, TD.

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M.M. London Gazette 1 March 1945:

‘On Friday 1st September 1944 No. 3 CCS moved to a new location at Allonville, near Amiens, from Caillouet. Attached to this CCS is one section of 325 Coy Pioneer Corps under command of W/Sgt J. Carpenter.

On route the lorry on which Sgt Carpenter was travelling developed battery trouble and so became separated from the Convoy. A/Sgt Nelson, RAMC, of No. 3 CCS was with Sgt Carpenter and obtained directives as to the route. These directions proved to be wrong and the lorry arrived at the village of Crillon. Here an ambulance driver returning towards Amiens reported to Sergeant Carpenter that he had been fired on from a point just outside the village. The village people also told the Sgts that that there was a party of the enemy, who fired at isolated vehicles and very small convoys indicating that this enemy group was in a small copse nearby.

Sgt Carpenter determined to investigate this report and proceeded towards this Copse and was fired upon by the enemy. This enabled Sgt Carpenter to locate the enemy. He went round the Copse so as to take the enemy in the rear. When in position he, acting entirely alone and regardless of the danger of his position, fired a burst at the enemy from his sten gun and immediately moved to a new position on a flank. From this position with great personal gallantry and without any regard to his own safety, he dashed forward firing from the hip. The enemy having been led to believe, by Sgt Carpenter’s rapid change of position that they were being attacked by more than one man, surrendered and it was found that they were five in number (one wounded in the arm) and were armed with rifles and one automatic weapon. Sgt Carpenter was next seen preceded by his five prisoners - who were handed over to the Maquis.

By his prompt and gallant tackling of this enemy group Sgt Carpenter undoubtedly stopped them from being a cause of trouble and hinderance to both our own troops and the civilians. Further, Sgt Carpenter has always shown outstanding powers of command leadership. He brought his section out from England to France entirely on his own and looked after them for some days before he was able to contact the Company, and he did all this in an exemplary manner.’