Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private F. Lawson, Parachute Regiment, who was killed in a battlefield accident in North-West Europe on 19 February 1945

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, slight traces of verdigris, therefore good very fine (4) £80-£120

Frederick ‘Mick’ Lawson, a native of Hull, Yorkshire, was born on 3 January 1917, and attested for the 26th East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry (Territorial Army), an Armoured Car Squadron of the Royal Tank Regiment, on 15 September 1937. He became a Regular Soldier at the outbreak of the Second World War, and trained on light tanks, later serving with the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps.

In November 1943, he volunteered for the Airborne Forces, and trained as a Parachutist at Ringway, completing course no. 94 on 20 December 1943. Posted to the 11th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, he transferred to the 9th Battalion, as part of the 6th Airborne Division, on 2 March 1944, and served with them in North-West Europe post D-Day. He was killed in a battlefield accident on 19 February 1945- tragically, on the day that his Battalion was due to vacate the frontline and return to England, he was shot and fatally wounded by one of his own sentries whilst returning from a patrol. He is buried in Nederweert War Cemetery, Holland.

Sold with four photographic images of the recipient, including one taken on his wedding day, 3 April 1943, and various copied research.