WW2 51st Highland Division Battle of Wadi Akarit Military Medal (Immediate) Group of Seven – L.Cpl. J.M. Black, Seaforth Highlanders

A second world war immediate MM group of seven awarded to 2825461 Lance Corporal J.M. Black, Seaforth Highlanders, awarded for gallantry in the field at Roumana Ridge during the Battle of Wadi Akarit, Tunisia, 6 April 1943.

George VI Military Medal named to 2825461 L.Cpl. J.M. Black. Seaforth. 
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Africa Star unnamed as issued 
Italy Star unnamed as issued 
France & Germany Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 

London Gazette:
8th July 1943 (Military Medal)
The official recommendation states:
  “During the attack on ROUMANA RIDGE on 6 April 1943 this N.C.O. drove a bren carrier of No. 4 pl. His first task was to deliver amn to fwd tps, and secondly to evacuate casualties. He accomplished both and continued to drive to and from the RAP with casualties all day under heavy fire the whole time. Whenever wounded men had to be lifted into his carrier he was always the first to assist and was always under heavy fire. His cool conduct and devotion to duty was an inspiration to all that witnessed it.”

The MM is an ‘Immediate’ award for repeated acts of gallantry as a Driver of a ‘Bren Gun Carrier’ with 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders at Roumana Ridge during the Battle of Wadi Akarit, Tunisia. 

The regimental records of 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders record that at Roumana Ridge (Battle of Wadi Akarit), the following casualties were suffered:

– Killed-in-Action / Died-of-Wounds: 52
– Wounded-in-Action: 123
– Missing: 17

Corporal Black’s war did not end in Tunisia. He subsequently served in the Sicily Campaign, and was present with 2nd Seaforths when they landed in Normandy on the afternoon of 6th June 1944. He served throughout the subsequent North West Europe campaign and was wounded in action on 18th November 1944 while fighting in the Netherlands. This occurred during the liberation of Panningen or Helden-Dorp (nowadays the municipality Peel en Maas, province Limburg, Netherlands). The British Army casualty reports record that the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders suffered the following casualties on the day Cpl Black was wounded:

Killed-in-Action: 4 x Other Ranks
Wounded: 20 x Other Ranks

The medals are in good condition.