Auction Catalogue

6 December 2023

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 629

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6 December 2023

Hammer Price:
£850

South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (Mne 1 K Williams PO42200X RM) mounted as worn, extremely fine £600-£800

K. Williams served with 45 Commando during the Falklands War. Under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Whitehead, the Royal Marines of 45 Commando were heavily engaged on the night of 11-12 June 1982 in the Battle of Two Sisters Mountain. With naval gunfire from Glamorgan in support, the attack proved a success, but stubborn and determined resistance by a company of the 4th Argentine Infantry Regiment proved sufficient to hold up the advance towards Stanley for much longer than expected.

After capturing the position, 45 Commando came under significant retaliatory fire from Tumbledown Mountain in the daylight hours of 12 June 1982; according to author Ian Gardiner in The Yompers: With 45 Commando in the Falklands War, a number of Marines took shelter in abandoned bunkers atop the Two Sisters, but were soon incapacitated through loss of hearing as a result of heavy Argentine artillery fire. Their comrades subsequently faced attack by a number of Skyhawk fighter-bombers which breached the Harrier air patrols and wrought havoc upon the vehicles and helicopters stationed at 3 Brigade Commando Headquarters on the lower western slope of the mountain.