Beschreibung:

The unique and outstanding ‘Battle of Imphal’ G.M. group of five awarded to civilian Volunteer N. M. Gilliam, American Field Ambulance, attached to 3/3rd Gurkha Rifles, whose commanding officer recommended him for the Victoria Cross, endorsed by General Slim whose recommendation was for the George Cross, and by other General officers for ‘the highest award for a civilian who is not a British subject’; the only known instance of the award of a George Medal resulting from an original V.C. recommendation George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Volunteer Neil McDowdell Gilliam) mounted on original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, these four mounted for wearing, together with American Field Service brass cap badge, and 23rd Indian Division cloth badge, nearly extremely fine (5) £8,000-£12,000 The unique and outstanding ‘Battle of Imphal’ G.M. group of five awarded to civilian Volunteer N. M. Gilliam, American Field Ambulance, attached to 3/3rd Gurkha Rifles, whose commanding officer recommended him for the Victoria Cross, endorsed by General Slim whose recommendation was for the George Cross, and by other General officers for ‘the highest award for a civilian who is not a British subject’; the only known instance of the award of a George Medal resulting from an original V.C. recommendation George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Volunteer Neil McDowdell Gilliam) mounted on original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, these four mounted for wearing, together with American Field Service brass cap badge, and 23rd Indian Division cloth badge, nearly extremely fine (5) £8,000-£12,000 Provenance: Acquired by Jack Webb in July 1967 from one Tom James, ex. recipient. G.M. (Honorary award) approved 29 September 1944, on Foreign Office recommendation; notified to Central Office of the Courts of Chancery by Foreign Office letter dated 29 September 1944. Date and Place of incident: May-June 1944; Imphal, Assam, India:- Volunteer Neil McDowdell Gilliam (Brunswick, Georgia, U.S.A.), No. 2 American Ambulance Unit, att. 14 Army. The original recommendation for the Victoria Cross was submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. D’Arcy-McArthy, Comd. 3/3rd Q.A.O. Gurkha Rifles, on 14 June 1944, and carries the following subsequent endorsements: ‘Victoria Cross or the highest award possible. Volunteer Gilliam’s conduct has been an inspiration to the whole formn.’ Lieut.-Col. J. F. Marindin, O.C. 37th Ind. Inf. Bde. ‘These are citations for a remarkably gallant series of actions which would previously have earned the doer of them the Victoria Cross. I urge most strongly the highest award for a civilian who is not a British subject.’ Major-General Ouvry L. Roberts, Comd. 23rd Indn. Divn. ‘Recommended for highest award possible.’ Lieut.-Gen. Geoffrey Scoones, G.O.C. IV Corps. ‘Recommended for the George Cross.’ Lieut.-Gen. W. J. Slim, G.O.C-in-Chief, Fourteenth Army. The original recommendation (WO 373/187/145 refers): ‘On the evening of 9th Jun 1944 the SCRAGGY and PYRAMID features in the SRENAM area on the PAIEL-TAMU road were subjected to heavy and continuous enemy artillery fire which caused many casualties, particularly in the forward platoon position, which was almost completely destroyed. Volunteer Gilliam was one of the members of an American Ambulance Unit attached to the Bde. whose task was to evacuate casualties in jeep ambulances from the forward area. Undeterred by the heavy shelling and by projector bombs of the PIAT type which were falling on the road, Volunteer Gilliam made numerous trips into the danger area, always driving slowly and carefully in order to cause the minimum of discomfort to the wounded men in his jeep. Between trips, although it was well outside his duty, he left his jeep ambulance on the road and went up into the company position where the fire was heaviest and assisted in car