Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War ‘Dunkirk’ M.C. group of four attributed to Lieutenant G. Douglas, Royal Artillery

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1947’; 1939-45 Star; War Medal; Efficiency Decoration, Territorial, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1950’, mounted as worn, together with an original copy of the London Gazette announcing the award, extremely fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 25 September 1947. ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field (prior to September 1945)’. The official recommendation states: ‘On May 22nd, 1940, Lieut Gordon Douglas, 57th A.T. Regt., Royal Artillery, was commanding a section of A.T. guns, the role of which was to deny the advancing enemy the crossing of the Petegemstraat-Langestraat road in the vicinity of Oudenarde, and thus cover the position of the 5th Batt. Royal Sussex Regiment. Heavy dive-bombing destroyed one of the guns of the section, killing the whole detachment. Lieut Douglas continued for two hours to hold his position with the remaining gun and two Bren guns. It was attacked three times by enemy infantry. The first two attacks were broken up by his determined resistance. In the third heavy attack his position was entirely surrounded; but for two hours he held on until almost every round of ammunition was expended, and the enemy infantry had closed in. He then fired off the remaining A.T. shells and (having no lanyard) showed great coolness in destroying his last gun by putting a round down the muzzle, and firing the gun by kicking the emergency firing lever; in doing so he was wounded in the face and chest. Throughout the whole action Lieut Douglas displayed the greatest coolness and devotion to duty.’

Lieutenant Gordon Douglas was taken prisoner at Dunkirk and held in Oflag O.7B at Eichstatt, where he remained for the duration of the war. His M.C. was gazetted in 1947 along with many other decorations to servicemen who had similarly been prisoners of war.