The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Sicily’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Corporal F. Dean, 1st/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6199455 A, Cpl. F. Dean. Midd’x R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (7) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: J. B. Hayward, February 1966.

M.M. London Gazette 18 November 1943:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Sicily.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘Corporal Dean was section commander, 13 Platoon, ‘D’ Company, 1st/7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment ordered to reorganise on C. Angelico when it had been captured by the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the night of 31 July - 1 August 1943. By 05:00 hours on 1 August the feature had not yet been captured by the infantry and the Platoon Commander ordered the Machine Guns into action less than 150 yards from the crest of the feature, now known to be very strongly held by the enemy. Within five minutes of ordering this Platoon into action the Platoon Commander was seriously wounded. Corporal Dean at once ordered his two guns into action and two enemy Spandaus, just visible in the half light were silenced. He ordered them forward a distance of some 80 yards, one gun to move forward covered by the other. The crest was occupied and the guns at once opened fire to deal with the enemy posts which were holding up the infantry in the olive groves some 300 yards on the left flank.

This Machine Gun section was, by now, under very heavy and sustained enemy Machine Gun and light automatic fire. With complete disregard for his own personal safety Corporal Dean moved calmly between his two guns giving them their targets and directing their fire. When his guns had been in action for about a quarter of an hour he notices an enemy sniper in the fold of the ground on the reverse slope who was pinning the infantry to their ground. He ordered the guns to continue firing whilst he went single-handed to deal with the snipe. His tommy gun jammed at the critical moment after he had worked his way to the rear of this sniper. Without a moment’s hesitation he jumped to his feet and forced the sniper to surrender at the point of his revolver. He returned to his guns to find that the section area was being swept by very heavy Machine Gun fire from a Spandau 200 yards in the valley below. He at once took command of one gun and silenced the enemy Spandau with his second burst.

It was entirely due to the outstanding and resourceful leadership of this N.C.O. that this Machine Gun section was able to secure the crest of C. Angelico before first light. The initiative and personal courage of this N.C.O. was a great inspiration to his men and the fire of their guns, which he directed with coolness and devotion to duty, enabled the infantry to reorganise successfully on their objective. He was personally responsible for silencing two enemy posts and the manner in which he directed the fire of his two guns under intense fire, at times almost at point blank range, was responsible for inflicting very severe casualties on the enemy holding this vital feature. Had it not been for the gallantry of this N.C.O and the manner in which he personally led this section into action in the half light of the morning on to the forward slopes of the feature, it is doubtful if the infantry could have reorganised successfully before dawn.’

Frederick Dean attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Teddington, and served with the 1st/7th Battalion during the Second War in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and in North West Europe. He was presented with the riband of his Military Medal by General Montgomery on 26 September 1943.