An exceptional ‘official replacement’ North West Europe Military Medal awarded to Lance Corporal R. Clay, 5/7th Gordon Highlanders who seeing service in the Netherlands, would be awarded a Military Medal in the London Gazette of 1st March 1945 for his remarkable gallantry in the attack on Donk on 21st November 1944. When attacked by two Spandaus, he saved the situation by seizing a bren gun and stepping on to the path in the open under heavy fire and then shooting it out with the two Spandaus on the flanks, by some miracle unhit he neutralised the enemy gins, only coming back for more magazines before stepping out to engage the enemy again. Eventually his luck run out and he was hit by the Spandaus but not before his heroic action had enabled both his platoon and the one on the left to take their objectives.
Group of 5: Military Medal, GVIR 1st type bust; this an official replacement, with the ‘R’ noting such having been removed (4537442 L.CPL. R. CLAY. GORDONS.) 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal. Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: mounted loose for wear, the Military Medal an official replacement with the ‘R’ noting such having been removed, otherwise Good Very Fine
Lance Corporal (No. 4537442) Rupert Clay saw service with the 5/7th Gordon Highlanders during the campaign in North West Europe and would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 1st March 1945, the exceptional recommendation for an immediate Military Medal reading:
‘On 21st November 1944, Lance Corporal Claye’s platoon was fighting its way forward to DONK through thick pinewoods. The platoon on the left had already been pinned to the ground when suddenly intense Spandau fire opened up at L/Cpl. Claye’s platoon from both the front and the flank. A Sgt, a Cpl and 2 soldiers were killed, the CSM and 7 others were wounded, the remainder took cover and the attack came to a standstill.
L/Cpl. Claye then saved the situation. Seizing a Bren gun he stepped on to the path in the open and from there, under heavy fire, he shot it out with the two Spandaus on the flanks.
By some miracle not only was he unhit but also he neutralised the enemy guns. He only came back to get more magazines and then stepped out to engage the enemy again.
Luck like this could not last forever. In the end the Spandaus got him but by that time his heroic action had enabled both his platoon and the one on the left to take their objectives.’
The London Gazette notes Clay as a resident of Leeds upon enlistment. An exceptional citation for an award made for the fighting in the Netherlands in the early winter of 1944-45.
