The extremely rare post-war Palestine M.M. group of eight awarded to Colour-Sergeant D. R....

The extremely rare post-war Palestine M.M. group of eight awarded to Colour-Sergeant D. R. Earp, 40 Commando, Royal Marines Military Medal, G.VI.R. (CH/X. 4368 A/Cpl. D. R. Earp. R.M.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Naval General Service 1915-62, 3 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya, Brunei (CH/X. 4368 D. R. Earp. A/Cpl. R.M.); Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (CH/X. 4368 D. R. Earp, M.M. A/Sgt. R.M.); U.N. Korea 1950-54; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (CH/X. 4368 D. R. Earp. M.M. Clr/Sgt. R.M.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (CH/X. 4368 D. R. Earp. M.M. Sgt. R.M.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (8) £12,000-£15,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- One of only seven M.M.’s awarded for Palestine 1945-48, including two to 40 Commando R.M., the other award being won during the same incident. M.M. London Gazette 7 January 1949: ‘In recognition of gallant conduct during recent operations in Palestine.’ The original recommendation states: ‘On 21 April 1948, ‘B’ Troop 40 Commando R.M., was holding positions to the North side of Kingsway, Haifa. I.Z.L. [Irgun Zeva’I Leu’mi – ‘The National Military Organization’] were known to be holding positions to their right. Corporal Earp was N.C.O. in charge of a Bren Group on the roof of No. 29 Kingsway. At about 1500 hrs he saw his officer, Lieutenant Seed, R.M., who was moving across a flat roof towards him wounded in the back and head by L.M.G. fire coming from the I.Z.L. positions. Corporal Earp immediately decided to take action, and at great risk to himself ran across the open roof under fire, and rescued his officer. He remained extremely cool and carried out a careful observation in order to locate the L.M.G. which was firing at them. Having located the L.M.G. he decided that he could not deal with it adequately from his present position. He therefore took his own Bren Gun and proceeded up Elijah street on the opposite side of Kingsway. There was considerable firing going on at the time and this was known to be a dangerous area containing a number of Jewish and Arab posts. At this stage he was joined by Corporal P. E. G. Pollard, R.M., also of ‘B’ Troop. At the top of the street he forced an entrance into a hotel and proceeded at once to the top floor, spotted the L.M.G. post and engaged it with fire. The Jewish Bren Gunner was killed instantly, rolled over and fell from the position. His number two was also hit, rolled over and lay still. Corporal Earp was then fired on from another position. He and Corporal Pollard at once moved down one floor, took up position in another window and shot the other sniper. Both Corporals, having eliminated the two sniper posts, then returned to their Troop positions and carried on with their normal duties. Throughout this action Corporal Earp acted without waiting for orders entirely on his own initiative, and at very great risk to himself. His display of offensive spirit and courage was exemplary.’ Dennis Roland Earp was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire on 15 February 1926 and died in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in February 1988. Sold with copied recommendation.