A fascinating Second World War North-West Europe Military Cross group awarded to Captain R.R. Souper, Royal Artillery, the nephew of Antarctic explorer Dr. E.A. Wilson, who died during Scott’s expedition of 1912. Souper would be decorated with the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 1st March 1945 for gallantry in the Netherlands on two separate occasions on the 24th and 27th October 1944, the first on 24th October 1944 when he would set up a sound-ranging base in an area yet to be fully cleared off the enemy, this in support of the southern thrust of the Schijndal – S’Hertogenbosch operation. On the second occasion on 27th October 1944, in the area of the Canal west of S’Hertogenbosch. In this case the ground for the best part of the base was not fully cleared for two further days. Capt Souper despite the fact that he had been ‘seen off’ by close range Spandau fire and against the advice of a tank troop commander, succeeded in establishing his flank microphones by crawling along a ditch covered by the same Spandau. Again, results which could not otherwise have been obtained proved invaluable, especially as the guns thus located were shelling S’Hertogenbosch. Souper would survive the war and would later give an extensive interview to the Imperial War Museum which now holds at least nine reels of audio taken from Souper describing his career during the Second World War and immediately afterwards.
Group of 5: Military Cross, GRI cypher, the reverse dated 1945; 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; loose-mounted for display.
Condition: loose-mounted for display, Good Very Fine
Along with:
Forwarding letter for Military Cross named to Captain R.R. Souper, M.C., Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Handwritten testimonial from Lt.Col Clegg, Royal Artillery dated 19th December 1945.
Newspaper article listing army awards for Gallantry in North West Europe, which includes Souper
Letter from the War Office dated 25th November 1947 enclosing an application to be completed and returned.
Issue voucher for MC dated 11th March 1948.
Photograph of Souper being awarded the Military Cross by Field Marshall Montgomery.
Portrait photograph of Souper in uniform,
Newspaper article relating to Souper’s uncle, Dr E.A. Wilson who died with Captain Scott in the Antarctic in 1912.
Robert Reinagle Souper was born on 10th August 1918 and would see Second World War service with the Royal Artillery being attached to the 1st Independent Sound Ranging Battery and 7th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery in the UK, and who would later command C Troop, 53rd Observation Battery, 7th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery in North West Europe. He would go on to be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 1st March 1945, the recommendation reading:
‘Capt Souper’s S.R. Base was in support of the southern thrust of the Schijndal – S’Hertogenbosch operation. On 24th October he was ordered to redeployed to the bridgehead just gained at St. Michiele Gettel. Owing to the narrowness of our thrust line the ground necessary for one advance post and the flanks of the base, had not been cleared of the enemy. Despite this Capt. Souper by bold personal reconnaissance succeeded in penetrating to suitable ground and in establishing his base many hours earlier then would have been the case had he waited for the ground to be cleared. This proved invaluable as his S.R. happened to be the only effective means of locating HBs in that area.
Capt Souper repeated the performance when again advancing his troop three days later on 27 Oct to the area of the Canal west of S’Hertogenbosch. In this case the ground for the best part of the base was not fully cleared for two further days. Capt Souper despite the fact that he had been ‘seen off’ by close range Spandau fire and against the advice of a tank troop commander, succeeded in establishing his flank microphones by crawling along a ditch covered by the same Spandau. Again, results which could not otherwise have been obtained proved invaluable, especially as the guns thus located were shelling S’Hertogenbosch.’
The Imperial War Museum holds an extensive oral history provided by Souper covering his service as an Officer with 1st Independent Sound Ranging Battery, Royal Artillery in the UK between 1940-43 which includes details of the methods used to detect gun positions whilst employed at the East Base HQ at Eythorne, near Dover, number of microphones used etc. The oral history also covers aspects of his employed whilst serving as the Officer Commanding C Troop, 53rd Observation Battery, 7th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery, and then subsequently his service in Normandy having landed on Juno Beach, Normandy shortly after D-Day, then the subsequent fighting around the Falaise Gap and on into Belgium and the Netherlands. He would also cover the fighting around the Battle of the Bulge and later during the advance into Germany including the crossing of the Rhine as well as his duties with the Allied Control Commission. 9 reels in total of audio of his service.
Souper was the nephew of Doctor E.A. Wilson who was a member of the Scientific Staff, Artist and Zoologist of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913. Reached the South Pole on 17th January 1912 and died with Captain Scott on the Great Ice Barrier in March 1912.
