Very late Second World War and British Army on the Rhine officers group, attributed to Lieutenant J.D. Bertram, Devonshire Regiment attached Wiltshire Regiment, formerly a Guardsman in the Grenadier Guards. Born in Hong Kong, and educated in England, Hong Kong and Australia, he was still a student in North Sydney when with the end of the war looming, he applied for service with the British Army. He enlisted at the beginning of August 1945, and is entitled to the War Medal 1939-1945, but not the Mention in Despatches Oakleaf that comes with it, an emblem which was nevertheless known to his wife when she undertook research of his service history in 2004. After service in the Grenadier Guards between August 1945 and May 1947, when he was comisisoned, and saw service with thee British Army of the Rhine in Germany from December 1947 to March 1948 as a Lieutenant with the Devonshire Regiment attached Wiltshire Regiment. He relinquished his commission to become a farmer at Otterburn Farm, Halwill, Beaworthy, Devon.
War Medal 1939-1945 with Mention in Despatches Oakleaf (the oak leaf is confirmed as not entitled, however it fits into his story).
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the following large quality of original documentation and ephemera:
Church of England Confirmation Certificate, issued in the name of Bertram when a pupil at Sydney Church of England Grammar School,, dated 7 August 1942.
Sydney Church of England Grammar School, North Sydney, Australia, letter of reference for Bertram as a student looking to enlist into the British Army, dated 9 March 1945. This together with a school report, dated 12 March 1945, as forwarded to the army.
British Passport issued for the Commonwealth of Australia. issued in the name of John Douglas Bertram, dated 24 May 1945, complete with pass photo. Expiry date, 21 March 1950.
British Army Certified Copy of Attestation for John Douglas Bertram, issued on his joining the Grenadier Guards, dated 1 August 1945.
Regular Army Certificate of Service Book, War Economy Version, this as issued to John Douglas Bertram (No.2628296) Grenadier Guards, who enlisted on 1 August 1945.
Remnants of recipient’s Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, issued to John Douglas Bertram on 1 August 1945, the cancelled on his being commissioned.
A group photograph of Corporal J. Richards’ Squad, Grenadier Guards, when at the Guards Depot in October 1945, with Guardsman D. Bertram identified far left, second row.
Letter of Reference on his application for a commission, this written by a former Assistant Superintendent of the Blue Funnel Line, dated 7 August 1946.
Student’s Report Form referencing his time spent with No.21 Rhine Army School of Agriculture, British Army of the Rhine, Germany, when serving as a Lieutenant with the Devonshire Regiment attached Wiltshire Regiment. Dated 13 February 1948. This with its forwarding envelope.
Release Certificate for an Emergency Commissioned Officer (Regular Army), in the name of 2nd Lieutenant Bertram, Devonshire Regiment. Dated 15 March 1948. This with its supporting documents.
Second World War period Grenadier Guards other ranks brass cap badge.
Second World War period Devonshire Regiment officers bronze cap badge.
Second World War period Wiltshire Regiment officers silver cap badge, reverse marked ’S’.
A GRI (George Rex Imperator) brass cap badge, presumably worn when an officer cadet.
A Second World War period British Guards Armoured Division “All Seeing Eye” cloth arm badge.
A Second World War period British 5th Infantry Division “Y” cloth arm badge.
Together with two other British military badges, both in the form of a red Maltese cross.
1940’s British Army Wessex Brigade printed arm badge.
Three photographs of the recipient, two when a boy, the other on the occasion of his marriage, this taken by a photographer at Paignton, Devon.
A tunic medal ribbon bar for the War Medal 1939-1945 and the General Service Medal 1918 with Mention in Despatches Oakleaf, despite not being entitled the second medal or oak leaf, this ribbon bar as is was known to the recipients wife, who made enquiries into his service history, the full service records being included with the archive.
John Douglas Bertram was born in Hong Kong on 5 December 1927, but information confirms that his mother was later residing at Newquay, Cornwall. He was first educated in England at Hymers College, Hull, followed by the Central British School, Hong Kong, and was in Australia, and a student at Sydney Church of England Grammar School in North Sydney when, on 9 March 1945, his headmaster wrote a letter of reference for him pending his application to enlist into the British Army. He had been a member of the Army Cadet Force at this school, ranked as a Sergeant.
Just a fortnight prior to the end of the Second World War, Bertram enlisted into the Regular Army at Redruth on 1 August 1945 as a Guardsman (No.2628296) with the Grenadier Guards, hence he just qualified for the War Medal 1939-1945, which was eventually sent to him in November 1965. After one year and 276 days service in the ranks, he was on service out in India, where he had been since 12 October 1946, when he was discharged to a commission at Bombay on 3 May 1947, he having been with No.7 Company, and an Officer Cadet Unit Candidate since 15 February 1946. Bertram was posted out of India on 11 June 1947.
Bertram was granted an Emergency Commission into the Regular Army and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (No.383219) into the Devonshire Regiment, and then saw service with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany as a Lieutenant with the Devonshire Regiment attached Wiltshire Regiment, and was present there from 13 December 1947, and according to a surviving Student’s Report Form, was with No.21 Rhine Army School of Agriculture as part of the British Army of the Rhine, as of January to February 1948, when he studied dairy and arable farming. the No.21 School of Agriculture was located at Ostinghausen.
He was however then on pre-release leave from 7 March 1948, having been sent home three days prior, and was released from military duty on 12 May 1948. Bertram was recalled from the Reserve of Officers at the time of the Korean War, but did not see active service owing to the ill-health of his mother. He latterly became a farmer, and ran Otterburn Farm, Halwill, Beaworthy, Devon, and died on 21 February 2004.
