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

A 1940 ‘Defence of Calais’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Lance-Corporal W. L. “Curly” Harrison, 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, subsequently taken prisoner in Greece, later Police Lieutenant in the Malay Police and a Corporal in the Canadian Forces

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7885608 L-Cpl., R. Tank R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (610 P/Lt., F. of M. Pol.); Canadian Forces Decoration, E.II.R. (Cpl.); Greek War Medal 1940-41, the first five medals plated, otherwise very fine or better (7) £400-500

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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M.M. London Gazette 27 September 1940.

“Was driver to Cpl Stewart. He drove his tank all day until he was exhausted. The tank was continually fighting.”

Most unusually, all four members of this tank’s crew were awarded the Military Medal for this action, in which they destroyed five German tanks. The recommendation for Stewart’s award states: “This N.C.O. was in charge of a Cruiser Tank. He showed great resource and courage and was responsible for his tank knocking out five German Tanks. He showed great determination and carried out excellent work for the Infantry.”

After evacuation from Dunkirk, Harrison served in Greece where he was captured in April 1941 after the Greek Army were forced to surrender to the German invading forces. Harrison was subsequently interned in Stalag 383, at Hohenfels, near Nuernberg. After the war he became a Police Lieutenant with the Federation of Malaya Police Force, and served during the emergency. When the Malayan Police Force disbanded, Harrison emigrated to Canada where he served in the Canadian Provost Corps. He was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration in February 1961. Sold with a copy photograph and a letter from a former comrade, Sergeant F. “Buck” Kite, M.M. and 2 Bars.