Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘Western Desert’ immediate M.M. group of five awarded to Private A. W. Sanders, 22nd Armoured Brigade, Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, for his gallantry under fire during the retreat from Saunnu, January 1942, when his vehicle came under air attack

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7601493 Pte. A. W. Sanders. R.A.O.C.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display, very fine (5) £700-£900

M.M. London Gazette 12 May 1942.

The original recommendation states: ‘On the night of Thursday, 22nd January 1942, when this Unit left Saunnu [south of Benghazi, Libya], this man’s lorry, of which he was the driver, became sandbogged in a Wadi under enemy fire. Although advised by a Major who was commanding another convoy, to abandon his truck, he decided despite the near presence of the enemy, to stay and try to free it. The whole of that day and the next day, he made repeated attempts to do so, although enemy tanks and troops were active in the neighbourhood and he was bombed from the air.

Finding it impossible to extricate the lorry, he rendered it unserviceable to the enemy and finding an R.A.S.C. vehicle, less badly bogged, he dug it out and made his way back to his Unit.’

Albert William Sanders served during the Second World War with the 22nd Armoured Brigade, Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps as part of 30 Corps in Libya.