WW2 Military Medal (Immediate) Group of Five to a Casualty - Company Sergeant Major J.D. Keir, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers - K.I.A. 27/10/1943

Product Code: MM-5023
Regiment: Royal Irish Fusiliers
Era: WW2

Price: £2,895.00

A superb second world war MM group for a night attack in Italy awarded to Company Sergeant Major John Duncan Keir, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, who was later killed in action.

George VI Military Medal named to 3966302 A/W.O.Cl.II. J.D. Keir. R. Ir. Fus.
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued
Africa Star unnamed as issued
Italy Star unnamed as issued
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued

The MM has had an official correction to the FUS on the naming. The medals are in good condition and the MM is mounted for wear.

Killed In Action - 27th October 1943

Citation for the MM (Immediate Award):
London Gazette 18th November 1943
“During the night attack on Mt. Malletto in the early hours of the 12th August, 1943, the Company of which Warrant Officer Keir was Company Sergeant Major, encountered determined resistance on the lower slopes. When one Platoon of the Company was heavily engaged in grenade fighting in the trees and terraces in that area, C.S.M. Keir accompanied another Platoon round the right flank. Spotting the post from which the main opposition was coming he crawled forward in the semi-darkness by himself and threw two grenades right into the position. This enabled the Platoon to advance and clear the post. Throughout the night attack C.S.M. Keir rendered the greatest assistance to the Company Officers in controlling the men, being always well to the front.

C.S.M. Keir also distinguished himself in the crossing of the River SIMETO on the 5th August, 1943, by bringing forward ammunition and food to his Company whilst under fire. His conduct in action was outstanding and inspired the men in his Company to respond to his leadership.”

The war diary for the action states: “The success of the attack was largely due to the perfect control kept by the company commanders Major PJ Proctor and CSM Keir.”
See extract below:

“12th August.
0030 Arrived FUP.
0230 Attack according to plan. A Coy on the left, and C on the right got to the foot of their objective without meeting any opposition from them on. A Coy met very heavy opposition from MGs and snipers. The advance up the hill was slow. TSMGs and grenades being the most successful weapons. In spite of the fact that individuals and sections were moving forward winkling out the enemy positions. The success of the attack was largely due to the perfect control kept by the company commanders Major PJ Proctor and CSM Keir. C Coy meanwhile was advancing and reached their objectives with no opposition. To help A Coy, the CO ordered them to swing left and try and reach the top of the hill.
Bttn HQ had by now moved up almost to the road and as it was beginning to get daylight, looked as though they might be caught in the open. Just in time, however, the success signal was fired by C Coy and they were able to move forward to the house half way up the hill after D Coy had recleared the copse and house.
0600 By daylight, the Bttn had consolidated and were digging in. A very unpleasant day was spent under very heavy mortar and MG fire and it was almost impossible to reach the two forward coys owing to sniping and 88mms firing HE.
It was difficult to get the MGs and mortar mules forward owing to sniping.
1600 D Coy went out to clear the village. Snipers and LGs had been firing from it periodically during the day and it was found to be held by about fifteen enemy. Some of these were taken prisoner. They were a very mixed band of survivors of a Para Regiment and Fortress Bttn with a few from an all German Reggio Bttn.
1800 News came from Brigade that the Americans were only a few miles from Randazzo, and had cut the road leading out of the town to the north east. It was thought that the Germans would have to withdraw and the Bttn was ordered to push on to Randazzo as fast as possible.
1930 CO’s orders.”

It was during the attack on San Salvo on the 27th October, 1943 that CSM Keir was killed. The action got off to a bad start and went downhill rapidly. The CO was killed - bullet to the head - early in the action. Major Proctor, mentioned in Keir’s MM action above had been hit and was missing. Two other officers were killed and another wounded.

See extract from war diary below:

“27th October.

0400 Lieut HL Hutchison took out his patrol again. One of his men set off a booby trap and was killed. The enemy MGs opened up and forced the patrol to retire.

1030 O Group at the Bttn HQ. Orders for the attack on San Salvo.

1800 A Coy crossed the river to join the other coys.

1815 Bttn HQ joined coys.

2130 C Coy moved to a position 500 yards in front of Long Farm to protect Start Line.

2230 Tape was laid along Start Line by IO.

2245 Coys moved into position covered by C Coy in the following order: Forward – A Coy left, B Coy right, followed by the HQ, followed by C Coy left, D coy right.

2300 Own artillery barrage starts.

2306 Forward coys crossed start line A Company on a bearing of 302 degrees, B Coy on 314 degrees. They had only gone a short way when heavy MG and shell fire was opened up on them. The whole Bttn was pinned down, the rear areas still in area of start line. As the intensity of the fire increased, it became obvious that the Bttn was in an enemy DF area.

The CO held an O Group at which he ordered D Coy, which had fallen behind to move up on the left of C Coy.

Sometime during the next half hour, the CO was killed by a stray MG bullet, which struck in the head.

B Coy continued the advance but was finally halted by the intensity of the enemy MG fire.

Major PJ Proctor had been hit and was missing, later known to be KIA and Major Wood assumed command

The CO took the decision to return to the area of the bridgehead, but not before it became obvious that any further attempt to advance would be futile and lead to a needless sacrifice of life.

Lieut JGC Glennie KIA, Lieut HL Hutchison (since died of wounds), 2/Lieut JV Baker wounded were the other officer casualties.”

The group comes with original citation sent to his widow along with other original documentation and copies of the 1st Battalion's war diaries for August 1943 (the action in which he won his MM) and October 1943 (the action in which he was killed).

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Tags: Gallantry Medals, WW2 Medals, WWII, World War Two, Second World War, Gallantry, Military Medals, British Medals, Campaign Medals, MM, KIA Medals, Royal Irish Fusiliers

WW2 Military Medal (Immediate) Group of Five to a Casualty - Company Sergeant Major J.D. Keir, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers - K.I.A. 27/10/1943

Price: £2,895.00

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WW2 Military Medal (Immediate) Group of Five to a Casualty - Company Sergeant Major J.D. Keir, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers - K.I.A. 27/10/1943

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