Lot 43
Second World War Special Forces Raiding Support Regiment, Liberation of Greece to Sergeant A.A Middleton
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
The Rare, confirmed, Second World War Special Forces Raiding Support Regiment, Liberation of Greece, and Territorial Long Service Group awarded to Sergeant Arthur Augustus Middleton, late Hampshire Regiment, late Army Air Corps, comprising 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, 1939-45 Defence Medal, 1939‑45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, Efficiency Medal, Territorial Suspension, (5498774 Sjt. A.A. Middleton. R. Hamps.), Greece: Medal for the War of 1941‑1945, unnamed as issued, in card box of issue with award certificate; first five court‑mounted for wear, very fine (6).
The Group is sold with an original letter from the Ministry of Defence detailing his personal service record and confirming overseas service in the Army Air Corps and Raiding Support Regiment. Also letters to and from the Greek Embassy confirming his application for the Greek World War Two Commemorative Medal.
Arthur Augustus Middleton appears to have come from Winchester, Hampshire and saw service during the Second World War with the Territorial Army becoming Sergeant (5498774) in the Royal Hampshire Regiment.
Middleton served from the 2nd of September 1939 to the 11th of March 1946, and was present in France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force during the Phoney War, covering the period 8th of January to the 23rd of February 1940. He was posted to the Middle East from the 12th of August 1943 and then served with the Central Mediterranean Force from the 16th September 1944 to the 15th February 1945 as a member of the Raiding Support Regiment.
The personnel of the Raiding Support Regiment, (RSR), were entirely volunteers, drawn from many Allied nations, chiefly Rhodesians, South Africans and British. As a matter of interest, the Regiment was adopted by the City of Johannesburg in 1943. Its C.O. was a South African, the ‘2i.c.’ a Rhodesian.
The RSR consisted of four Squadrons and a Regimental HQ. These Squadrons were armed with different supporting weapons; “A” Squadron armament consisted of .50 Vickers Heavy Machine Guns mounted on jeeps. “B” Squadron was armed with 3‑inch mortars, and “C” Squadron with antitank guns. “D” Squadron, of which Middleton was a member, was armed with 75mm gun Howitzers and consisted of 3 four‑gun Batteries.
The RSR was part of the Second Special Forces Brigade. This was a composite Brigade which included 111 Field Artillery Battery, armed with 25‑pdrs, and an anti‑aircraft Battery with 3.7‑inch anti‑aircraft guns. However, these guns were used solely as field artillery and anti‑tank weapons. In the Brigade there was also a Mountain Battery of Highland Light Infantry and several other small special service units. Owing to the independent nature of these organisations, the Brigade never operated as a combined unit, rather independent Batteries being used wherever the need arose.
Having seen service on Operations with the RSR in Italy and the Adriatic in support of the liberation of Greece, operating in Greece for some seven months, Middleton was posted back to the Middle East from the 11th of October 1945 and then Home on the 23rd of March 1946, demobilising on the 13th of June.
Sold with Box for Greek War Medal, Framed and Glazed, Award Certificate for Greek War Medal, original letters from the MoD and Hellenic Embassy, London, and a resumé of his Service and the RSR.
