Medals belonging to a war hero who was sent on a top secret mission to help the main D-Day assault are going under the hammer.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers Ltd now has the impressive pieces of history up for grabs to the highest bidder. The medals belonged to Frederick Balfour Scott, Lieutenant (later Major) of the 2nd Battalion Oxs and Bucks Light Infantry, for his heroic efforts in World War Two.
He was part of a top secret mission on the night prior to D-Day on June 6, 1944, which was code named Operation Mallard. Their aim was an airborne assault by Horsa gliders to land behind enemy lines to attack and help the main D-Day assault.
The next day Lieutenant Scott, who had originally enlisted with the Duke of Wellington Regiment but had transferred to the Ox and Bucks, was awarded the Military Cross for his actions and bravery in leading his men under heavy machine gun fire to take enemy positions.
The gliders in Operation Mallard were towed over the English Channel and contained a large numbers of troops, who landed behind enemy lines in Ranville, Normandy, at approximately 9pm.
Their brave efforts that night helped secure vital areas which were close to the landing beaches, areas which played an important part of the following day’s events.
After seeing action in and around Ranville, the battalion later moved inland in the fight to take Caen. Scott commanded a platoon throughout the campaign in Normandy and in particular on August 25, 1944, when his unit came under heavy machine gun fire from an enemy position.
Scott led his men forward and with his sten gun inflicted casualties on the enemy. His leadership and example led the way and enabled him and the platoon to complete their mission.
The full size medal group consists of the Military Cross, the back dated 1945, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence and War medal (un-named) and George VI General Service medal (Palestine 1945-48 Bar) which are mounted loose on a pocket wearing bracket.
The Fine Art and Collectors Sale will be held at The Lichfield Auction Centre, in Wood End Lane, Fradley, from 10am on Wednesday, August 16. Viewing opportunities are available from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday, August 15.
More information is available by visiting the website here
What was D-Day?
D-Day, on June 6, 1944, was seen to be a major turning point in World War Two. It was the start of the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944 and resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe which was then under Nazi Germany’s control.
On June 6, the battle began, which was codenamed Operation Overlord, and around 156,000 British, American and Canadian soldiers landed on five beaches on a heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region.
All of northern France had been liberated by late August 1944 and the Allies had defeated the Germans by the following spring.
