Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Palestine B.E.M. awarded to Lance-Corporal Ian Craig, Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers
British Empire Medal (Military) G.VI.R. (14102298 L/Cpl., R.E.M.E.) in its card box of issue, together with a R.E.M.E. sweetheart brooch in 15 carat gold and enamel, good very fine (2)

B.E.M. London Gazette 4 November, 1947.
Awarded for an incident following the infamous attack by armed Jews on the Acre Prison on Sunday, 4th May, 1947. A party of four were returning to camp in a civilian lorry, driven by an Arab along the Acre-Safad road when they were hailed by a man wearing a Captain’s uniform and carrying a Bren gun. He shouted to them to jump out, but before the truck came to a stop he opened fire on them, killing the Arab driver. The truck ran gently down a ditch by the side of the road, and two of the party jumped out and ran for cover with their rifles into a cornfield while the “Captain” fire at them.
While this was going on, L/Cpl. Craig who had stayed in the back of the truck, loaded his rifle and crawled up to the tailboard and peeped over. The “Captain” was about 15 yards away and spotted Craig. He fired at him, but Craig at once shot him in the face. The “Captain” dropped his Bren gun and put his hands up to his face, spun round and fell after Craig had shot him again. He was later picked up dead. Sold with further details including copies of congratulatory letters and a photocopied photograph of Craig receiving the B.E.M. from Brandt van Zyl, the last Governor General of South Africa.