Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Italian theatre’ ‘Immediate’ M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant A. Sweett, Royal Artillery, who was wounded in the leg, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1098877 Bmbr. A. Sweett. R.A.) in named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; together with a presentation Masonic ‘Square’, silver, engraved ‘Presented to W. Bro. Arthur Sweett M.M. W.M. 1969-1970 by the Lodge of Endeavour No. 8045’, nearly extremely fine (7) £1,000-£1,400

M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1945.

The original Recommendation states: ‘On 9 April 1945 the Regiment was engaged in a fire plan in support of 19 Indian Infantry Brigade who were to cross the Senic. The programme was fired without interruption for some hours, but between 0200 hours and 0400 hours, 210th Field Battery area was subject to considerable shelling by enemy medium guns.
Although duplicate lines had been laid and laddered, those between the Command Post Exchange and both Troops were cut repeatedly. Lance-Sergeant Sweett, who was N.C.O. in charged communication in the gun area, organised repair parties which he led personally each time a line was cut. On two occasions he ordered his men to remain under cover when the shelling had increased in intensity, and traced and repaired the cuts himself.
During the whole of the two hour period, Lance-Sergeant Sweett was exposed to heavy fire, but with unflagging energy and complete disregard of danger, he kept communications open during a critical time in the attack. By his example and behaviour Lance-Sergeant Sweett was an inspiration to everyone in the gun area, and in no small way contributed to the steady and confident manner in which the Battery carried on during this period.
This is only one of many occasions on which this N.C.O. has shown that he possess initiative and powers of leadership above average.’

M.I.D. London Gazettes 19 July 1945 and 29 November 1945.

Arthur Sweett was born in Mitcham, South London, and served during the Second World War the 53rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, in Egypt at El Alamein and Tobruk, in Iraq and Syria, and in Italy from 1943. Wounded in the leg on the Adriatic coast on 1 April 1944, for his services in Italy he was awarded an immediate Military Medal, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches.

Sold together with the named Buckingham Palace enclosure for the M.M.; the recipient’s two original Mentioned in Despatches Certificates, with War Office enclosures; the recipient’s original Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Record Office letter informing the recipient’s wife that he had been wounded; a newspaper cutting reporting the recipient’s return home, with photograph; and copied research.