Beschreibung:

A well-documented and highly impressive C.B.E., Second World War “behind enemy lines” D.S.O., North Africa operations M.C. group of ten awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel T. “Sailor” Kitcat, Royal Artillery, late Royal Navy, who was parachuted into Macedonia and Malaya with S.O.E. missions in 1944-45 and assisted U.S. special forces in the Korean War The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Civil) Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Toye, Kenning & Spencer, London case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1945’; Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1942’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (Lt. Col., D.S.O., M.C., R.A.), surname spelt ‘Kilcat’; Korea 1950-53 (Lt. Col., D.S.O., M.C., R.A.); U.N. Korea, mounted as worn, the second with slightly chipped reverse centre-piece, otherwise generally good very fine (10) £6000-8000 Footnote C.B.E. London Gazette 12 June 1965. D.S.O. London Gazette 9 August 1945. M.C. London Gazette 23 April 1942. The original recommendation - reduced from a D.S.O. - states: ‘On 2 February 1942, a battery with some infantry was guarding the road some 12 miles west of Carmusa. During the morning Major Kitcat’s battery was sent up to reinforce this force. A few minutes after arriving near the area German lorried infantry were seen approaching down the road. Their rapid advance over-ran the battery and infantry already there in spite of being hotly engaged. Major Kitcat had very quickly got his battery into action and gave all possible assistance by fire to the force, but the German advance continued and a few tanks and armoured cars began to outflank them on the left. From then on the battery with no escort whatever except two anti-tank guns, was forced to withdraw down the line of the road. With great skill and steadiness, Major Kitcat withdrew by troops for twelve miles, six separate troop positions being occupied. Constantly threatened and machine-gunned from the flank and with large bodies of lorried infantry advancing on his front, he inflicted the maximum of damage and delay in each position before withdrawing. By the time the battery reached the main position all ammunition had been fired - no guns had been lost and the enemy were so delayed that they were unable to press home an attack that afternoon.’ Mention in despatches London Gazette 15 December 1942. Terence “Sailor” Kitcat was born in the East End of London in July 1908, the son of a clergyman, and was educated at Bradfield College (Junior House) prior to entering Dartmouth as a Naval Cadet. Appointed a Midshipman in 1925, he enjoyed seagoing appointments aboard H.M. Ships Marlborough, Tiger and Hood, prior to specialising as a Navigator in submarines. But in 1930, having seen an Army horsemanship display at Wembley, he decided a career in the Gunners would be more ‘fun’, and duly obtained a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, R.A. in February 1931. As it transpired, he was a natural and exceptional horseman, and between 1934-39 he served at the R.H.A’s Equitation School at Weedon, where he participated in much steeplechasing and show jumping - in fact he was considering leaving the Army to pursue a full time career as an amateur National Hunt jockey when the outbreak of hostilities intervened. Posted to North Africa in the temporary rank of Major, he commanded 11th Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, R.A., a component of 4th Indian Division, 13 Corps, and won the M.C. for his great skill and courage in an action west of Carmusa on 2 February 1942 (see above related recommendation). He was also mentioned in despatches for the period November 1941 to April 1942, and saw action in Syria, while attached to the Free French, greatly impressing the latter with his battlefield exploits