Medals to the Royal Tank Regiment from the Collection of Bill Green

An exceptional ‘Sidi Rezegh’ D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant Stanley “Ginger” Burrage, 6th Royal Tank Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (7885179 A/Sjt., R. Tank R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France & Germany Star; Defence & War Medals, very fine (6) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Royal Tank Regiment from the Collection of Bill Green.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 19 March 1942.

“At Sidi Rezegh on 23 November 1941, he showed the greatest coolness and courage during most difficult circumstances. As a tank commander, he held his fire until the last moment and knocked out two enemy tanks. When his tank was finally put out of action and his crew killed, he acted magnificently under fire, evacuating wounded men and forming a small first-aid post himself. Throughout this action he caused many casualties to the enemy and was instrumental in saving the lives of many wounded, and his personal example of outstanding calmness and bravery under fire was an inspiration to all.”

As this episode occurred while he was isolated from his Regiment, his C.O. knew nothing about it until, a few weeks later, two Rifle Brigade officers arrived at the Citadel Barracks, Cairo, identified Burrage as the man who had saved the lives of a group of Green Jackets, and recommended him, so the story goes, for the Victoria Cross. A version of the incident is also found in With Pennants Flying by David Masters, published in 1943:

“For instance, Sergeant Stanley Burrage was seen to grapple with several enemy tanks. With skill and patience he jockeyed them into a favourable position, when he darted in and knocked out two in rapid succession. His luck did not hold. A little later his tank was struck and his crew killed; but by one of those strange chances of war he escaped. Deprived of his tank, with his crew killed, he might at that moment have considered that he had done all that was humanly possible, and made his way to the rear. Instead, the sight of the wounded around him on the battlefield prompted him to set up a little first-aid post, where amid all the shelling and machine-gunning he tended his suffering comrades to the best of his ability. Many men owe their lives to his humane action, which was recognized by the award of the D.C.M.”

Sold with a first edition of the above book, additional research and several letters from old comrades who served with him.