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Lot Essay
Sold with original Buckingham Palace and War Office M.M. transmission slips; Soldier's Service and Pay Book; Soldier's Release Book; Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve; newspaper cutting; photographs of the recipient in uniform; handwritten notes on his journey to, and early service in North Africa and two booklets - Views of Venice.
M.M. London Gazette 20.9.1945. Recommendation states 'Gunner January is the Medical Orderly of the Battery, Royal Artillery. He has given splendid service and shown outstanding devotion to duty throughout the period. In January 1945, the Battery was in action near Faenza in a heavily mined area. Casualties occurred to personnel of his Battery, and of other units, and also civilians. On every occasion, despite the danger of unexploded mines, and with complete disregard to his own safety, Gunner January immediately went to the injured men and rendered first-aid. His gallant behavior and his medical skill were directly responsible for saving the lives of the wounded. He has shown equal gallantry and devotion to duty in previous periods. Whenever casualties have occurred in his Battery he has always gone immediately to the scene to render first-aid, often under heavy shell fire. His calmness under fire and his skill in serving the wounded has gained him the complete confidence of all ranks of his Battery, and has materially helped to maintain their morale'.
Gunner Stanley Charles January, M.M., was born in Yeovil, Somerset in 1909. A Glove Cutter by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Larkhill on 16.4.1942, and went on to win his M.M. in a Battery of 4th Medium Regiment, R.A.
An extract from a letter written by a Lieutenant Harding, a fellow 'Yeovilian' in late 1944 reads:
'If anyone scratches a leg, or drops a shell on a foot, at once goes up the cry "Send for old Jan". He is now aged about 30 or 32, is quiet, but interested in his little job - and very conscientious above all - everyone loves and trusts him and his advice. Many don't like going to the Doctor - for fear of being sent away from their pals into hospital. But if January takes their temperature and in his quiet voice says "Bedder zee the M.O. Bert" - they go without a murmur'.
M.M. London Gazette 20.9.1945. Recommendation states 'Gunner January is the Medical Orderly of the Battery, Royal Artillery. He has given splendid service and shown outstanding devotion to duty throughout the period. In January 1945, the Battery was in action near Faenza in a heavily mined area. Casualties occurred to personnel of his Battery, and of other units, and also civilians. On every occasion, despite the danger of unexploded mines, and with complete disregard to his own safety, Gunner January immediately went to the injured men and rendered first-aid. His gallant behavior and his medical skill were directly responsible for saving the lives of the wounded. He has shown equal gallantry and devotion to duty in previous periods. Whenever casualties have occurred in his Battery he has always gone immediately to the scene to render first-aid, often under heavy shell fire. His calmness under fire and his skill in serving the wounded has gained him the complete confidence of all ranks of his Battery, and has materially helped to maintain their morale'.
Gunner Stanley Charles January, M.M., was born in Yeovil, Somerset in 1909. A Glove Cutter by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Larkhill on 16.4.1942, and went on to win his M.M. in a Battery of 4th Medium Regiment, R.A.
An extract from a letter written by a Lieutenant Harding, a fellow 'Yeovilian' in late 1944 reads:
'If anyone scratches a leg, or drops a shell on a foot, at once goes up the cry "Send for old Jan". He is now aged about 30 or 32, is quiet, but interested in his little job - and very conscientious above all - everyone loves and trusts him and his advice. Many don't like going to the Doctor - for fear of being sent away from their pals into hospital. But if January takes their temperature and in his quiet voice says "Bedder zee the M.O. Bert" - they go without a murmur'.