Second World War North West Europe group awarded to Gunner H.T. Wetherell, Royal Artillery. From Kennington and later Streatham Common, London, he fought with the 84th (Sussex) Medium Regiment RA which as part of 30 Corps in the 5th Army Group RA fought in Normandy at Bayeux and in the Falaise Pocket, and when in support of the Guards Armoured Division, took part in the advance to relieve Arnhem, reaching Nijmegen. In March 1945 it took part in the Rhine Crossing, and ended the war at Bremervorde when in support of the 51st Highland Division.
Group of 4: 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; with the Royal Artillery Field Branch Records Office card box of issue, this addressed to: Mr. H.T. Wetherell, 62 South Side, Streatham Common, London, SE16’,
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the following:
Royal Artillery other ranks brass cap badge, complete with slider.
Certificate of Registry of Birth, issued in the name of Henry Thomas Wetherell, born 12 September 1922.
Four photographs of the recipient, three of him in uniform with the Royal Artillery. Also an image of presumably his daughter.
Henry Thomas Wetherell was born on 12 September 1922 in Kennington, London, the son of Henry Wetherell and Grace Hurst. With the Second World War he enlisted into the Territorial Army on 12 March 1942, joining as a Gunner (No.1140672) the Field Branch of the Royal Artillery.
Wetherell went on to see service with the 84th (Sussex) Medium Regiment RA, which was converted from the 58th (Sussex) Field Regiment RA (TA) in December 1943. It went to France in June 1944 as part of 30 Corps in the 5th Army Group RA. It fought in Normandy at Bayeux and in the Falaise Pocket, before going on to support the attempt by 30 Corps to relieve Arnhem, when operating in support of the Guards Armoured Division and reached Nijmegen. In March 1945 it took part in the Rhine crossing, and as of May 1945 and the surrender of Germany, was operating in support of the 51st Highland Division, and located at Bremervorde.
The Regiment went into suspended animation in April 1946, and as such Wetherell then found himself transferred to the 3rd Medium Regiment on 3 April 1946, before being released from service on 25 November 1946, and transferred to the Class Z Territorial Reserve on 16 February 1947. Wetherell was married to Anne Hacker, and as of 1946 was living in Gatcombe, Hampshire, though he was living in Streatham Common when he claimed his campaign medals, and he died in June 2005 in Colchester, Essex.
