Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Burma operations M.M. awarded to Acting Sergeant R. C. Wherry, South Wales Borderers, who charged an enemy machine-gun post, killing three of the enemy and scattering the rest

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5440989 A. Sjt. R. C. Wherry, S. Wales Bord.), good very fine £1600-1800

M.M. London Gazette 19 April 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘From 9 November 1944, during the operations north of Pinwe, Lance-Corporal Wherry’s battalion was the leading battalion in the Brigade. On 14 November 1944, the enemy launched a series of counter-attacks upon the Battalion position. During one of these counter-attacks the enemy succeeded in establishing an M.M.G. position which threatened part of the Battalion perimeter. Two attacks on the succeeding day failed to dislodge the enemy M.M.G. Lance-Corporal Wherry, although a tradesman in H.Q. Company, at once volunteered for a patrol to clear the M.M.G. During his attack the Patrol Commander was badly wounded, his body remaining under heavy M.M.G. fire. Lance-Corporal Wherry immediately charged the enemy position killing three and routing the remainder. His resolute action cleared the enemy post and enabled the Patrol Commander to be evacuated.’

Robert Cuthbert Wherry, a member of the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was decorated for the above cited deeds during two weeks of bloody fighting around Pinwe, where the Japanese made a determined stand – a period that witnessed Battalion casualties of 157 men killed or wounded, versus enemy losses of over 150 in killed alone.