Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Craftsman J. Haley, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who was killed in action/died of wounds during the Battle of Anzio, 28 April 1944

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. T. Haley, 138 St. Martin’s Flats, Vaughton Street, Highgate, B’ham’; together with a circular silver and enamel fob, nearly extremely fine (3) £60-80

Joseph Haley served during the Second World War with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and was killed in action/died of wounds during the Battle of Anzio on 28 April 1944. During the Battle the R.E.M.E. were called upon to fight as Infantry, and sustained heavy casualties, as Captain A.A. Jilani recalled: ‘At the Anzio beachhead behind the German lines, the initial outcome was disastrous. The German resistance intensified so that the beachhead could hardly expand and the Allied casualties rose steeply. The R.E.M.E. troops were amongst many who were called upon to discard their specialist roles and fight as Infantry until the situation improved.’

Haley was aged 21 at the time of his death. He is buried in Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio, Italy. His medals were sent to his father Thomas Haley.