Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Korean War M.M. group of six awarded to Corporal R. S. Critcher, Essex Regiment, formerly Suffolk Regiment, who gained the award of his M.M. for gallantry in the Samichon Valley whilst attached to the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment - When his night patrol was ambushed, without hesitation he moved out into the open where he could see the enemy and standing firing his Bren gun from the hip, he drew their fire, thus allowing the withdrawal to go ahead without further casualties, even though he himself had received a bullet wound in the action

Military Medal, G.VI.R, 2nd issue (14190302 Pte. R. S. Critcher, Essex); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (14190302 Pte. R. Critcher. Suffolk.); Korea 1950-53 (14190302 Cpl. R. Critcher. M.M., Norfolk); U.N. Korea, mounted as worn, minor official correction to unit on the first, good very fine or better (6) £3400-3800

M.M. London Gazette 8 April 1952.

The original recommendation submitted by by Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. R. Orlebar, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, for an immediate award of the M.M. states:

‘Samichon Valley, Korea: On the night of 19-20 February 1952, Private Critcher was a member of a fighting patrol sent out by ‘D’ Company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Norfolks, to lay an ambush for enemy patrols approximately midway between the Chinese lines and those of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Norfolks, which at this point are separated by a valley a mile wide. It was a very dark night, and the patrol moved in single file along a frozen mud road, led by the Patrol Commander, 2nd Lieutenant Keen, who was followed by his wireless operator and then Private Critcher, armed with a Bren gun. When the patrol had reached a point within two hundred yards of the area selected for the ambush it was engaged by a party of at least 12 Chinese who opened fire with grenades and automatic weapons from a range of ten yards.

During the first moments of the battle the Patrol Commander was wounded in the head and was deafened in both ears by grenades which exploded around him. The patrol itself was in a very difficult situation as it had not had time to deploy and bring fire to bear on the enemy. Private Critcher, with complete disregard for his own safety, and in spite of a bullet wound in the groin, stood up and fired his Bren gun from the hip to give the patrol time to reorganise itself and to deploy.

On three occasions Private Critcher endeavoured to find a suitable fire position for his Bren gun, but on each occasion the gun was knocked over by blast from grenades. Private Critcher then continued to fire from the hip, standing up, although he must have presented a clear target at such short range because of the flash from his Bren gun. The patrol was enabled to extricate itself from the ambush by Private Critcher’s actions, and his presence of mind and courageous action undoubtedly prevented more serious casualties to the rest of the patrol. It was not until the patrol had disengaged itself and withdrawn some three hundred yards, under Private Critcher’s covering fire, that it was discovered that he had been wounded. This courageous action on the part of Private Critcher and his initiative and determination shown by him on this occasion were outstanding.’

Reginald Stanley Critcher was recommended for his immediate M.M., the related paperwork confirming his deeds were enacted in Samichon Valley.

Sold with copy of original recommendation and a cutting from the Essex Regimental Journal featuring a group photograph that includes Richard Stanley Critcher in uniform wearing his M.M.