Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A Second War ‘Battle of Crete’ D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Major H. C. D. Marshall, Australian Military Forces, who recommended for an earlier D.S.O. for his gallantry during the Libyan campaign, and was subsequently captured and taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Crete. Escaping from captivity in April 1945, he served with the Allied Forces in Europe prior to being repatriated to the U.K., and was consequently one of only a handful of Australian recipients of the France and Germany Star. Sold with a bound typescript of the recipient’s personal War Diaries, that chronicle his entire War, and add fascinating insight into his career Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1941, with integral top riband bar, in Garrard, London, case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, the three campaign medals (but not the three stars) officially named ‘VX.34 H. C. D. Marshall’, in named card box of issue; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Australia, the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘VX34 Maj. H. C. D. Marshall A.I.F.’, with integral top riband bar, in Royal Mint case of issue, nearly extremely fine (8) £4,000-£5,000 --- One of only 34 France and Germany Stars awarded to members of the Australian Military Forces. D.S.O. London Gazette 23 September 1947: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Greece and Crete in 1941.’ The original Recommendation states: ‘In Crete when the Battalion was without signals or transport and employed n four rearguards, Major Marshall was of inestimable value in the conduct of the reconnaissance and in keeping the organisation going in the face of many disintegrating factors, lack of food and water, and fatiguing marches. Because of the non-existance of communications, at 42nd Street, Suda Bay, it was impossible for the Commanding Officer to control the whole of his Battalion’s front, and Major Marshall was made responsible for the right flank of the Battalion. His steadiness and thoroughness and personal example were conspicuous and contributed in the highest degree to the successful employment of the Battalion. As Second in Command of the Battalion and for a short period Commanding Officer during the Libyan campaign he rendered particularly outstanding service for which he was Mentioned in Despatches.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 July 1941: ‘For distinguished services in the Middle East during the period December 1940 to February 1941.’ The original Recommendation (for a D.S.O.) states: ‘In Libya at the Battle of Bardia he commanded the Battalion until the early morning of the second day, the Commanding Officer being on other duty. On that occasion he conducted with skill and vigour a night attack against strong posts of the perimeter and switch line, the success of which stabilised the position in that sector. The following day he carried out a reconnaissance under heavy artillery fire obtaining the necessary information to complete an artillery fire programme.’ Henry Charles David Marshall was born at Shepparton, Victoria, on 16 November 1905 and enlisted in the Senior Cadets on 1 July 1919. Posted to the 24th Battalion, Citizen Military Force, on 1 July 1923, he was advanced Warrant Officer Class II on 1 December 1925, and was commissioned Lieutenant on 30 March 1926. He was promoted Captain on 31 July 1922, and Major on 1 July 1939, before attesting for the Australian Military Forces at South Melbourne, Victoria, on 1 November 1939. Granted the rank of Major, he was posted to the 2nd/7th Battalion for service in the Middle East, and after service in Palestine and North Africa, interspersed with various training courses, he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry in the Libyan campaign at the Battle of Bardia. Mentioned in Despatches instead, he then embarked for service in Greece on 9 April 1941, and was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Crete on 1 June 1941. Marshall was held at various Prisoner of War camps, including Oflag 6B from 25 April 1942. He escaped on 4 April 1945, and then operated against the enemy in North West Europe until recovered by the Allies on 12 April, service for which qualified him for the France and Germany Star. Disembarking at Sydney, New South Wales, on 20 June 1945, he was discharged on 3 August 1945, and was subsequently created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, being invested with the insignia by the Governor of South Australia at Government House, Adelaide, on 6 October 1949. He died on 20 October 1971. Sold with the recipient’s riband bar, which includes the M.I.D. oak leaf emblem; a typed transcript of the recipient’s War Diaries, in two bound volumes, each approximately 150pp, with copied correspondence from the Australian War Memorial; a copy of ‘The Fiery Phoenix, the Story of the 2nd/7th Australian Infantry Battalion 1939-1946’, which contains various references to the recipient; and copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.