Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Burma campaign M.M. group of seven awarded to Corporal A. F. Breeze, West Yorkshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4532823 Cpl., W. York. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4532823 Pte., W. York. R.) minor official correction to number; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, nearly extremely fine (7)

M.M. London Gazette 22 June 1944.

The following details are taken from a copy news cutting sold with the lot: ‘How Sgt A. F. Breeze, Corps of Military Police of 213, Abbeyfield Road, Sheffield, won the Military Medal in an action on the Arakan front, Burma, is told in a letter from Major C. P. Kaye, whose wife lives at 29 Frickley Road, Sheffield.

Major Kaye tells how on the night of February 6th, when the Japanese had cut the Bawli Road, Sergt Breeze was on duty at a police post conducting convoys of supply lorries and ambulances at Briasco Bridge. The area came under heavy mortar, machine-gun and rifle fire. In the darkness and confusion drivers lost their vehicles, wounded in the ambulance convoy were endangered and supplies on their way forward were in danger of being captured.

Sgt Breeze assisted by a lance-corporal, drove each of the ambulances in turn to a casualty clearing station and evacuated all the supply vehicles. “ These two N.C.O.s returned time and time again, ignoring the heavy fire,” says Major Kaye, “They worked incessantly for six hours and saved many lives, vehicles and a quantity of supplies, all of which would have fallen into enemy hands had it not been for their gallantry and complete disregard for danger.”

Sgt Breeze has been abroad since the outbreak of war, and has served in Abyssinia, Eritrea, Libya and Burma. He was previously employed at Messrs. Thos. Firth and John Brown Ltd., Sheffield. He was awarded the M.M in April.’