Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Captain T. A. Plowman, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps, who at the Battle of Arnhem on 24 September 1944, ‘armed with a revolver in one hand and a walking stick in the other, led an immediate counter attack which drove the Germans out’, only to be killed in action later that day- for his gallantry he received a posthumous Mention in Despatches

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. R. L. Plowman, Haven Court, Winchmore Hill, Enfield, Middlesex’, with named Buckingham Palace condolence letter, extremely fine (6) £260-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Thomas Anthony Plowman served during the Second World War with the 1st Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps in North Africa, before taking part in the Invasion of Sicily. Promoted temporary Captain, he went to Arnhem as Second in Command of ‘F’ Squadron of the Glider Pilot Regiment, and was killed in action during the fierce fighting near the Tafelberg Hotel. Travel by Dark- After Arnhem by Graeme Warrack, states:
‘Across the road in Hugh Maguire’s cottage everyone was still asleep. About 7:00 a.m. while we were having breakfast there was a lull and I decided to pay my daily visit to Divisional HQ. Unfortunately just before I set out the “morning hate” started and it became quite clear that I should have waited until things settled down. At 9:00 a.m. a jeep arrived with five casualties, including Tony Plowman of the Glider Pilots. He was very shocked, with wounds in his left arm and ankle. He had been on a six pounder and had been laying up for a tank which, in spite of being wounded, he had eventually got- a very brave action. I sat with him for a while, during which time the house was hit.
Back at Tafelburg I found that my house had been hit again and that Tony Plowman had been killed instantaneously, and that three men had been wounded for the second time.’

In his book The Wings of Pegasus, G. Chatterton gives further details of the action that preceded Plowmen’s death:
‘It was at this time that we lost poor Tony Plowman, who had just taken over Tony Murray’s Squadron when he was wounded. The Germans were, as usual, extremely aggressive and shortly afterwards put in an attack on our hard pressed corner of the wood. They came in yelling under a hail of mortar fire and actually got into the thinly held line where they were stopped by Tony Plowman, who gathering a few weary men together, and with a revolver in one hand and a walking stick in the other led an immediate counter attack which drove the Germans out. Then, in a final insult to Hitler’s men, Tony led his men in derisive singing of “Lilli Marlene”, the Germans’ own song. Having completed the first verse or two Tony Plowman, in a voice that carried to the farthest corners of the wood, roared to the enemy: “Come on you bastards and get her!” There were roars of delight from his own men quickly followed by frightened yells from the enemy, who began to shout: “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” as a number came out with their hands up.
Not long afterward a jeep rolled up to our headquarters flying a red cross flag. On it lay poor Tony Plowman.’

For his gallantry at Arnhem, Plowman received a posthumous Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 10 May 1945).

Plowman was aged 24 at the time of his death. He is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Holland. His medals were sent to his father Robert Lionel Plowman.

Sold with Army Record Office letter informing the recipient’s father of his son’s death; photograph of the recipient, aged 16; a group photograph of glider pilot officers at R.A.F. Brize Norton, 23 May 1944; and a photographic image of the recipient with H.M. Queen Elizabeth.