Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1944 ‘Italian operations’ M.C. attributed to Lieutenant W. A. Smurthwaite, Royal Army Medical Corps

Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated ‘1944’, and additionally engraved ‘William A. Smurthwaite’, in Royal Mint case of issue, with typed copy of citation, nearly extremely fine £500-£700

M.C. London Gazette 7 December 1944:

‘On 17th June, 1944, in the area of Citta Del Pieve, a company of the East Surrey Regiment sustained casualties, including both their officers, in an area well forward of their main positions. Lieut. Smurthwaite, walked for two hours across country in broad daylight, under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, to the company positions. From these positions he went further forward to the area in which the casualties were lying, and although subjected to both machine gun fire and sniping, succeeded in collecting in our own and enemy wounded. He then returned to make further medical arrangements, and was unable to reach the position that night. On the same night the company was withdrawn, as the battalion was relieved, but the incoming unit did not occupy the same positions. On the following morning, however, this officer went out again with medical stores and and rations. Still under heavy fire and unescorted, he tended the wounded for another 36 hours until the enemy withdrew and the road was cleared, enabling ambulances to reach them. His action was in the very highest traditions of the Medical Service.’

William Aston Smurthwaite was a native of Long Ditton, Surrey.