Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Dunkirk 1940’ D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer Class I W. E. Bedworth, 60th (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (5102817 A-Sjt. W. E. Bedworth. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (5102817 W.O. Cl.1. W. E. Bedworth. D.C.M. R.A.) first initial officially corrected on last, nearly extremely fine (8) £2,000-£2,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1940:
‘For gallant and distinguished services in action in connection with operations in the field.’

William Ernest Bedworth was born in Birmingham on 23 December 1908 and attested for the 5th (Territorial) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment on 6 February 1925. He served 6 years attending regular annual training, being discharged on termination of his engagement.

On 27 April 1939 Bedworth re-enlisted into the 5th (Territorial) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, with the same service number; the Battalion had recently converted to an anti-tank role. Embodied for service on 2 September 1939, he served during the Second World War with the 60th (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery as part of the British Expeditionary Force, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, apparently for an anti-tank action during the retreat to Dunkirk (sadly no citation appears to have survived, and the War Diary is a little sparse on detail of the actions around this period). According to family tradition, he engaged a number of tanks, destroying three until another tank shot a ‘leg’ off his gun. He then escaped through a corn field.

Advanced Warrant Officer Class II in 1941, Bedworth saw further service with the 8th Army through North Africa into Italy, and for his service was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 6 April 1944. He saw further action post D-Day in North West Europe, and according to family tradition was wounded in 1945. He died in Birmingham on 27 January 1981.

Sold with the recipient’s Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, this mounted on card with two brass R.H.A. shoulder titles pinned to it; a Royal Welch Fusiliers cap badge; 2 Master Gunners sleeve badges; a 7th Armoured Division cloth patch; a silver Football Medal; and copied research.