A good North West Europe Albert Canal Bridgehead Military Medal group awarded to Lance Sergeant J. Roberts, 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards who would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 1st March 1945 for on 7th September 1944 securing a vital bridge on the left flank of a bridgehead over the Albert Canal at Beeringen. The bridge was essential for the passing over of the tanks for an attack on a large factory. On approaching the bridge, Roberts’ section was heavily fired on by enemy on the left and he was ordered to locate and destroy the opposition. This he succeeded in doing though under constant fire, he killed the Warrant Officer in charge of the enemy post and took the remaining eleven as prisoner. He then led his section forward to secure the bridge. He would later on 14th September 1944 be wounded whilst defending against an enemy counter-attack on a bridgehead, this being confirmed in the War Office daily casualty list of 29th September 1944.
Group of 5: Military Medal, GVIR 1st type bust, (2722539 L. SJT. J. ROBERTS. IR. GDS.) 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal and War Medal. Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: mounted loose for wear, Nearly Extremely Fine
Along with:
3 x photographs of the recipient, one in military uniform, one in civilian clothes, and one in uniform as part of a group shot presumably with his family.
Irish Guards cloth shoulder badge.
Joseph Roberts saw service as a Lance Sergeant (No. 2722539) with the 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards in North West Europe and would go on to receive the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 1st March 1945, the original recommendation reading:
‘On Sept 7th 1944 this NCO was commanding the leading section of a platoon ordered to secure a vital bridge over a stream on the left flank of the bridgehead at Beeringen. Securing of the bridge was essential for the passing over of the tanks for an attack on a large factory on left. On approaching the bridge L/Sgt Roberts section was heavily fired on by enemy on the left, and he was ordered to locate and destroy this enemy opposition. This he succeeded in doing though under constant fire, killed the WO in charge of the enemy post and took the remaining eleven prisoner. He then led his section forward to secure the bridge.
This NCO’s handling of section and his own personal bravery and coolness were of the highest order and but for his splendid work, securing of the bridge may have been much longer delayed.’
The battalion war diary for the 7th September 1944 states:
‘The Bn took over the bridge head on the Albert Canal from the W.G. group at noon. The day was an unpleasant one with considerable shelling from enemy S.P. guns which caused several casualties. Captain W.R.R.S. Bruce was killed early in the day and Capt. White and Lord Flunkett wounded.
In the early evening, No.3 Coy (Major M.V. Dudley) carried out a sweep in co-operation with a squadron of tanks to clear the Germans from the slag heap to the west of the town which was dominating the bridgehead. The attack met with considerable success but was unable completely to clear the large factory area and had to be content with limited consolidation.
Several S.P. guns were knocked out and from this moment, the shelling of the bridge head diminished considerably. Total other ranks casualties were 8 killed and 16 wounded.’
Shortly afterwards, on 14th September 1944, Roberts would be wounded , this being confirmed in the casualty list of 29th September 1944. The battalion was fighting in the area of de Groot on 14th September 1944 and the war diary covers the events of the day:
An enemy counter-attack was launched in some strength against the bridge head. A number of the enemy with spandaus and bazookas succeeded in infiltrating into the area held by No.3 Coy on the left, and the whole Bn and the bridge itself were subjected to fairly heavy mortar and shell fire throughout the day. During the evening, although the attack had been halted, were then compelled to re-organise to closer dispositions that those we had previously held. At nightfall, the shell and mortar fire intensified and was subsequently proved to be a cover for the enemy’s withdrawal, as there was no signs of them the following morning.
During the day Lt. Kennard and six ORs were killed, 23 Ors wounded and five ORs missing, but on the whole, casualties were lighter than might have been expected as the result of a two Battalion co-ordinated attack.
