Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War North Africa operations M.M. group of five awarded to Guardsman R. Dean, Coldstream Guards, who ‘remained totally indifferent to any personal danger’ as he went about his work as a stretcher-bearer in the battle for “Long Stop Hill” on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1942: he was born in Kensington, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2660024 Gdsmn. R. Dean, C. Gds.); 1939-45 Star, the reverse privately engraved, ‘2660024 Gdsmn. Richard Dean, M.M., Coldstream Guards’; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army, the reverse privately engraved, ‘ 2660024 Gdsmn. Richard Dean, M.M., Coldstream Guards, “Long Stop Hill”, 24/25 Dec. 1942’; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, both privately engraved, ‘2660024 Gdsmn. Richard Dean, M.M., Coldstream Guards’, mounted as worn, good very fine or better (5) £1200-1400

M.M. London Gazette 18 March 1943. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘During the fighting on Long Stop Hill on 24-25 December 1942, this Guardsman was a Company Stretcher-Bearer. Throughout the action he displayed great courage and devotion to duty, tending wounded men under fire and remaining consistently where the fighting was at the highest pitch. He remained totally indifferent to any personal danger and was responsible for saving several lives.’

Richard Dean, who was born in the Parish of St. Michael, Kensington in Philadelphia, enlisted in the Coldstream Guards at Blackburn in January 1940. At the time of winning his M.M. he was serving in the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, a component of the 1st Guards Brigade, 78th Division.