Hi there, i have recently stumbled across this WW2 military cross set someone has for sale. I would never be able to afford it ( sob ) so i thought i would introduce it all to you. He says the most important thing is that it is kept together and wants to know the value of a collection like this as he would prefer to sell it all together to maintain the history.
Here is a description provided by the owner:
My father's medals, including the military cross, come with 2 battledress jackets, helmet, water bottles etc as well as buttons and other decorations and citations. We have his original war service books, discharge letter and much information about his service during the war, being part of the coronation celebrations in 1953 and after in the territorial army. There is also some correspondence and a letter from King George regretting he could not give Dad's his medal. Alongside this are the maps he used in the war and other details about his war service in the Royal Engineers with the 43rd Wessex Division. He was instrumental in putting the bridge across the Seine at Vernon and there are photos of this taken at the time. He put in another bridge at Cloppenburg, 60 miles south of Bremen. We are keen to find a home where this information will be kept together.
The citation for the military cross is as follows:
“On 27th March, 1945 at Millingen Lt. Silvester was in charge of clearing the streets of debris. In spite of shelling and mortar fire he went on foot to direct the work of an armoured bulldozer. When it was knocked out be a direct hit he fetched another which he operated himself until the job was done.
On 13th April, 1945 at Cloppenburg he was one of the first men to reach the demolished bridge in the town. Although enemy snipers were still very active he continually exposed himself to measure the gap and remove the mines from the debris. The speed with which the bridge was later built was largely due to his personal preparatory work in the most hazardous conditions.
Ever since he landed in Normandy in June 1944 Lt Silvester has always displayed an exceptional devotion to duty and has set a fine example to those about him. He is one of those men one likes to have present in a battle.”
A newspaper described him as one of two `Bath men’ who “. . . were in a party of sappers who, in the face of fierce enemy opposition, put a 680-foot bridge across the Seine within 23 hours of the first British assault on the river” on 25th August, 1944.
Bookmarks