A very fine Second World War North Africa Battle of Wadi El Akarit Distinguished Service Order and rare later Palestine Jewish Revolt casualty group awarded to Lieutenant Colonel G.L. Hildebrand, Royal Artillery who having served as the Commanding Officer of the 149th Anti-Tank Regiment in the Middle East and North Africa including at the Battle of El Alamein. He would be decorated with the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of 8th July 1943 for his courage at Wadi El Akarit on 6th April 1943 when he showed conspicuous gallantry and leadership in carrying out the task of organising an anti-tank and MMG screen to cover the forward objectives gained by the infantry. With outstanding devotion to duty and skill and without regard to his personal safety Colonel Hildebrand completed his tasks under intense enemy fire in the shortest possible time, thus ensuring against counter attack on the objectives gained. The security of the bridgehead won in the enemy defences was largely due to the courage, initiative and resources displayed by this officer. The 64 guns of Colonel Hildebrand’s Regiment were brought into the hills soon after daylight, a feat demanding the highest attributes of command and leadership. He would later see service in Palestine during the Jewish Revolt and would be killed in action on 6th April 1948 during a Zionist Irgun organisation raid on a large camp at Pardes Hanna, near Haifa when seven British soldiers were killed including Hildebrand who was mortally injured in the attack. One of the most senior officer's to lose his life and one of the last British casualties of the conflict.
Group of 6: Distinguished Service Order, GVI GRI 1st type cypher, reverse of suspension dated 1943; 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; bar 8th Army; Defence Medal; War Medal; General Service Medal 1918-1962, GVIR 1st type, 1 Clasp: Palestine 1945-48; (LT. COL.G.L. HILDEBRAND. R.A.)
Condition: a couple of small chips to the white enamel to the reverse of the D.S.O. otherwise Good Very Fine
Sold with :
Fine Presentation scroll in Indian silver along with the parchment scroll itself, presented by M.E.S. Staff & Contractors with compliments to the recipient's father, Major A.R. Hildebrand, R.E., Ahmednagar 15th December 1933.
Medal ribbon bars, one for the DSO and the 1939-1945 Star, the other for all medals except the GSM, and a single ribbon for the GSM.
Royal Artillery Cap Badge missing the fittings to the reverse.
Geoffrey Launcelot Hildebrand would be born in Kent on 6th March 1905, and would be educated at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on 28th January 1925, promoted Lieutenant on 28th January 1927, Captain on 23rd January 1937, acting Major on 3rd June 1940, temporary Major on 3rd September 1940, Major on 28th January 1942, and acting Lieutenant Colonel on 13th September 1942, being posted as the Commanding Officer of the 149th Anti-Tank Regiment with whom he would see service in the Middle East and North Africa including at the Battle of El Alamein.
Hildebrand would be awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 8th July 1943 in recognition of his gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East:
‘For devotion to duty and great courage in the operation at Wadi El Akarit on 6th April 1943, this officer displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership in carrying out the task of organising an anti-tank and MMG screen to cover the forward objectives gained by the infantry. Conditions of ground and enemy defences rendered this task one of extreme difficulty.
With outstanding devotion to duty and skill and without regard to his personal safety Colonel Hildebrand completed his tasks under intense enemy fire in the shortest possible time, thus ensuring against counter attack on the objectives gained. The security of the bridgehead won in the enemy defences was largely due to the courage, initiative and resources displayed by this officer. The 64 guns of Colonel Hildebrand’s Regiment were brought into the hills soon after daylight, a feat demanding the highest attributes of command and leadership.’
The Battle of Wadi Akarit (Operation Scipio) was an Allied attack from 6 to 7 April 1943, to dislodge Axis forces from positions along the Wadi Akarit in Tunisia during the Tunisia Campaign of the Second World War. The Gabès Gap, north of the towns of Gabès and El Hamma, is a passage between the sea and impassable salt marshes. The 51st (Highland) Infantry Division breached the defences and held a bridgehead, allowing the passage of their main force to roll up the Axis defences. After several determined counter-attacks, the Axis forces withdrew and the Eighth Army, under General Bernard Montgomery, pursued toward Tunis, until reaching Axis defensive positions at Enfidaville.
Hildebrand would later serve as the Commanding Officer of 66th Anti-Tank Regiment, and would serve in North West Europe, as well as commanding the 12th Anti-Tank regiment, Royal Artillery.
Later serving in Palestine during the Jewish Revolt, he would be killed in action at Pardes Hanna, Palestine on 6th April 1948, when the 12th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Artillery were involved in evacuating a large camp there when they were attacked by irregulars, believed to be from the Zionist Irgun organisation. The sentry and three other members of the guard were held up against the guardhouse wall, shot in the back and killed. The wireless mast was then destroyed and shots fired into the camp, killing one more soldier and mortally injuring the Commanding Officer, Hildebrand.
Hildebrand’s father Arthur, to the who the Presentation Scroll was gifted had earlier served in the army and attained the rank of Brigadier General in the Royal Engineers.
