Medals & Coins, Arms & Armour - 25th May 2022
Lot 37
The rare Operation Husky BEM group of five medals to Corporal Frederick Charles Henry Bye
Estimate £300 - £500 | Hammer £280
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Description
The rare Operation Husky BEM group of five medals to Corporal Frederick Charles Henry Bye, London Irish Rifles and Army Catering Corps: the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, military (7015891 CPL. FREDERICK H. E. BYE), 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wearing, better than very fine, the BEM with uniform striations around the edge. [5]
BEM London Gazette 23/03/1944. Recommendation reads: "During the whole of the Sicilian campaign this NCO was in charge of HQ Coy cooks. His work was meritorious to a very high degree and in spite of the little sleep for days on end [sic] he has never flagged....when the CQMS of HQ Coy fell sick he also carried out the duties of CQMS in a most satisfactory manner..."
Born in Fulham October 1918. Appears to have come onto the strength of the ACC at the time of its creation in 1942, while remaining in-post with the 1st Battalion London Irish Rifles. This seems to be the only identified BEM to either the LIR or the ACC for the invasion of Sicily, and in therefore very rare if-not unique. Offered with research.