A superb Second War 'North West Europe' crossing of the River Ijssel and attack on Arnhem M....

A superb Second War ‘North West Europe’ crossing of the River Ijssel and attack on Arnhem M.M. group of five awarded to Corporal F. Walton, 2nd Battalion (Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment), Middlesex Regiment, who maintained communication at his control post when all the buildings around around him were pounded by enemy artillery and shattered by ammunition dump explosions. Hit by shrapnel, he proceeded to save three carriers from a completely untenable ‘holocaust’ of fire and set a magnificent example of bravery to his comrades Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4616498. Cpl. F. Walton. Midd’x. R.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, minor edge bruising to MM, good very fine (5) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.M. London Gazette 12 July 1945. The original recommendation for an ‘immediate’ Military Medal by General H. D. Crerar, G.O.C.-in-C., First Canadian Army, later passed by Field Marshal and Commander in Chief Sir B. L. Montgomery, states: ‘On the night 12/13 April 1945, 49 (WR) Division forced the River Ijssel and attacked Arnhem. For the operation it was necessary for No. 12 4.2 Mortar Platoon to take up a very exposed position on the bank of the Neder Rijn immediately south of Arnhem to enable the Platoon to support both the assault river crossing and the attack on the town. It was also necessary to dump a large quantity of mortar ammunition, both High Explosive and Phosphorous Smoke. Corporal Walton was Driver Operator of this platoon. The platoon came under extremely heavy enemy arty fire, which set fire to a large ammunition dump. This ammunition immediately exploded, igniting the houses in the vicinity and the remaining dumps of ammunition. The house in which the Control Post was situated became a blazing inferno. Corporal Walton, entirely undaunted and regardless of his own safety, remained at his post operating his set and maintaining vital communication. He did not leave his post until the wall of the house collapsed and the No. 22 Set which he was operating was hit by shrapnel and completely destroyed, Corporal Walton being severely injured. The area, by this time, had become not only completely untenable but a holocaust. The mortar ammunition was exploding in all directions and naturally this brought down further accurate enemy artillery fire. Corporal Walton, although injured, showed unexampled bravery by running three times into the centre of the danger and personally driving away the only three carriers which had not already been destroyed. He faced almost certain death by entering the danger area to drive away the vehicles and during the time that he remained at his post operating the wireless set. By so doing he set a magnificent example of bravery. His devotion to duty was of the very highest order, far surpassing his normal responsibility.’ Frederick Walton was recommended on 22 April 1945 for the ‘immediate’ award of the Military Medal following the storming of the River Ijssel by assault troops of the Allied Armies tasked with the liberation of the Netherlands from the occupying forces of Nazi Germany. Repeated delayed due to poor weather, the crossing of this heavily defended natural barrier was finally achieved by Canadian I and II Corps, with the British 49th Infantry Division taking Arnhem; using leapfrogging techniques, three infantry Brigades succeeded in capturing the city within four days. Less than two weeks after the battle a general truce brought major combat operations in Holland to an end, and on 4 May 1945, Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery accepted the unconditional surrender of all German forces in the Netherlands, preceding the end of the Second World War in Europe. Sold with original named Buckingham Palace enclosure and card box of issue for M.M., with medal entitlement slip, this hand annotated ‘4616498. Cpl. F. Walton, Middlesex Regiment, M.M. L.G. 12.07.45.’