An impressive Second War 'North West Europe' M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Sergeant...

An impressive Second War ‘North West Europe’ M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Sergeant V. F. Ruddick, Coldstream Guards, who led his men across 300 yards of open ground in the face of at least two German machine guns Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2658364 L/Sjt. V. F. Ruddick. C. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, swing mounted, the MM nearly extremely fine, the remainder with light contact marks, very fine (5) £1,200-£1,600 --- M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946. The original recommendation states: ‘Throughout the whole campaign in North West Europe, Lance-Sergeant Ruddick has been one of the outstanding section leaders in the Battalion and one of the few to come through all the fighting unscathed. After each of our many battles his name has been brought to notice for outstanding bravery and devotion to duty. A typical example occurred on 16th February 1945, when his section was the leading one in his Company which on that day passed through the original forward companies in the attack on the strongly defended German defences at Mull, south east of Gennep. The platoon objective was a farm 300 yards beyond the main German anti-tank obstacle, and having crossed this, Lance-Sergeant Ruddick led his section for 300 yards over open country in the face of the fire from at least two German machine guns. On reaching the farm he approached a door and fired his sten into the house. The gun jammed and after throwing a grenade he rushed in, wounding two Germans and capturing ten more. This is merely a typical example of Lance-Sergeant Ruddick’s dash and initiative which has at all times been of the utmost encouragement to the rest of his platoon and indeed to the whole Company.’ Vernon Forrest Ruddick was born in Brampton, Cumberland, in 1918, the son of Andrew Forrest Ruddick of Coal Fell, Cumberland. He attested for the Coldstream Guards around 1937 and witnessed heavy action with the 5th Battalion in North West Europe with the Guards Armoured Division. An account which accompanies the lot adds: ‘Vernon, who lived at Carlisle had joined the party to return to the bridge at Nijmegen. Unfortunately the transport arrangements from Arnhem to Nijmegen broke down and he was unable to get there... He told me he had seen Capt. Liddell’s action to gain the V.C. at close quarters and that he had done all of the ceremonial duties in London. He joined the Police after the war, then had a grocery shop in Carlisle for many years.’ Discharged to the Regular Army Reserve 5 April 1946, Ruddick died at Carlisle in 1998. Sold with a fine and well-annotated pocket diary from 1 January 1945 to 11 April 1945, the entry for 16 February 1945, stating; ‘Going in again today. Will finish this after if able. Wish me luck Andy... Got through O.K. but failed in my promise. Had chance to kill twenty but turned out only one.’; the entry for 17 February 1945, adds: ‘Had a hectic night last night. Never a wink of sleep. Walking about in a trance today. Jerry about 1km away. Lovely sunny day.’; with original named Buckingham Palace letter of award; a fine photograph of the recipient proudly wearing his medals at the Arnhem 50th Anniversary reunion in 1994; a copy of A Distant Drum, War Memories of the Intelligence Officer of the 5th Bn. Coldstream Guards, by Captain J. Pereira, hand annotated to inside cover: ‘2658364 L/Sgt V. F. Ruddick. M.M., No. 3 Company, 5th. Battalion. Coldstream Guards.’; and a contemporary Coldstream Guards car badge.