Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War North Africa operations D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Brigadier J. J. McCully, Royal Sussex Regiment: having been wounded at Dunkirk in June 1940, he was decorated for his gallant command of the 5th Battalion at El Alamein and held Brigade Command out in India and Burma 1943-45

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, together with assorted military prize medals (12), three in silver and several named, good very fine or better (20)
£1200-1500

D.S.O. London Gazette 17 June 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘Throughout the past period of operations from 23 October to 5 November 1942, Lieutenant-Colonel McCully has displayed a very high order of leadership and calmness under fire, in the face of most difficult conditions. On the night of 27-28 October, his battalion was ordered to carry out a night attack, with but the scantiest of preparation, and in the face of heavy opposition. Owing to circumstances beyond Lieutenant-Colonel McCully’s control the Battalion did not quite reach its objective and found itself next morning holding a very exposed position under heavy and accurate S.A. and artillery fire. Despite this, however, they held on for a day and a half before being withdrawn. It was mainly due to Lieutenant-Colonel McCully’s coolness and leadership that the Battalion got as far as it did, and then maintained itself there for so long. Subsequently, on the night of 1-2 November, his battalion carried out another night attack, and once again this officer’s leadership and his complete disregard for his own safety were instrumental in making this attack successful.’

John James McCully, who was born in Gravesend, Kent in November 1904, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment in January 1925 and, as confirmed by a number of accompanying prize medals, quickly established himself as a champion boxer - his victims often being knocked out in the first round. Boxing and Athletics aside, at which he also excelled, McCully was serving as a Captain in the 7th Battalion on the outbreak of hostilities and was duly ordered with his unit to France, where he was wounded in May 1940 when a troop train was hit by several bombs near St. Roche station.

Advanced to Major in January 1942 and to the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1941, he took command of the 5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, which unit he took out to the Middle East and commanded with distinction during the battle of El Alamein, gaining the D.S.O. Having then been advanced to the acting rank of Brigadier in late 1943, he was appointed to the command of the 27th Indian Infantry Brigade in India, and saw further action out in Burma in 1944-45, latterly with 29th Infantry Brigade, in which capacity he took the surrender of Lieutenant-General Hayashi Kinoshita, C.O. of the South Malayan Army and Third Air Force of Japan after the surrender in Singapore in 1945 - the latter’s swords were later placed on displayed in the Royal Sussex Regiment Museum.

Post-war McCully served in the British Military Mission to Greece 1949-50, and as C.O. of the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the Arab Legion 1950-53, and was placed on the Retired List as a Brigadier in March 1957. He died in Bodmin, Cornwall, in December 1985.