Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Burma operations M.M. group of five awarded to Private C. F. Stuart, Seaforth Highlanders, who was decorated for his gallantry in a fighting patrol in June 1943, on which occasion he stood up in the course of three enemy attacks and calmly picked off at least ten of their number with his rifle

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2821789 Pte. C. F. Stuart, Seaforth), in its named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, together with veterans’ Dunkerque Medal 1940, an ‘Algiers 1944’ ring, and a quantity of Seaforth badges and buttons (7), extremely fine (14) £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 30 September 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘In an attack on a Japanese position in the area of Yetagun on 21 June 1943, Private Stuart was one of a fighting patrol of one British officer and 12 British other ranks. The Japanese in greatly superior numbers attacked the patrol on three occasions and each time in increasing numbers. Private Stuart had taken up a standing position in long grass and during the three attacks he fired 48 of his 50 rounds, each round carefully aimed.

His actions were an example of great gallantry. Remaining perfectly calm throughout these attacks he accounted for at least 10 Japanese and his Patrol Commander (Lieutenant Gunn) considered this a modest estimate.

He showed complete disregard for his own safety, standing up in long grass picking off the advancing enemy at about 20 to 30 yards range. His coolness and tenacity of purpose was an inspiring example and was undoubtedly instrumental in saving casualties in his own patrol and in assisting them to withdraw when ordered.’

Charles Stuart was serving in the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, at the time of the above cited deeds. His patrol leader, Lieutenant John Gunn, who was awarded the M.C. on the same occasion, was a formidable jungle fighter - when he was seriously wounded winning a second M.C. at Scraggy Hill in May 1944, a fellow officer carried him down the hill to safety, and his Jocks, on seeing the officers coming towards them, apparently exclaimed to his rescuer, “Don’t bring him back here, sir. He’ll get us all killed!” Of events on 21 June 1943, Gunn’s obituary in the Daily Telegraph states:

‘In June 1943, in the Chin Hills of northern Burma, Gunn led a patrol of 12 men in an attack on a Japanese garrison of some 80 men. The monsoon had broken, with its attendant horrors of mud and disease.

As they worked their way through the dense jungle, the patrol heard hideous noises ahead and thought that they might have run into the Japanese. It turned out to be a troop of monkeys.

A frontal assault was made by a company of 4/5th Mahrattas Light Infantry. When the Seaforths heard the Mahrattas open fire, they climbed through the wire in the rear of the enemy position and slipped into their trenches.

A Japanese sentry spotted them but he was quickly silenced and surprise maintained.

Gunn and a comrade went to investigate some straw huts and were on the point of capturing an enemy officer when one of the patrol gave an ill-advised shout.

The officer heard this and ran for his hut. He was shot but he fell on one of his grenades which exploded and killed him.

Gunn grabbed the man's map case, which subsequently proved to be of great value; but the alarm had been raised. The attack by the Mahrattas did not seem to have been pressed, and the Japanese turned their attention to Gunn and his men.

The enemy counter-attacked three times with a bayonet charge. Each assault was heralded by much shouting and waving of drawn swords on the part of the officers; each was stopped at 10 to 15 yards distance and driven off.

When the Japanese began to infiltrate from the rear, the patrol fought their way out. Enemy mortars forced them to make a wide detour, but they returned to base after a long trek and an absence of 36 hours. Some 47 enemy soldiers were accounted for; two Seaforths were killed and two wounded.’

Sold with a newspaper cutting and an original photograph of Stuart with two American troops, brandishing a captured Japanese sword.