THE SUPERB SECOND WORLD WAR IMMEDIATE ‘SALERNO’ 1943 D.C.M. GROUP TO A SHERMAN TANK GUNLAYER OF 40TH (THE KING’S) BATTALION, ROYAL TANK REGIMENT, WHO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN TAKING CONTROL OF HIS TANK AFTER HIS TANK COMMANDER WAS KILLED, KEEPING HIS TANK IN ACTION FOR A FURTHER THREE HOURS DURING WHICH TIME HIS TANK WAS SUBJECTED TO INTENSE MORTAR FIRE AND SNIPING UNTIL IT WAS FINALLY HIT BY AN ENEMY ANTI-TANK GUN. ‘BREWING UP’ THE TANK, FROM WHICH, THOUGH WOUNDED, HE ESCAPED WITH TWO OTHER CREW MEMBERS, ANOTHER BEING KILLED. HE LATER SERVED WITH ARKFORCE DURING THE GREEK CIVIL WAR

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘7915294 L. CPL. J. L. COOMBES. R. TANK R.’, 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR; ITALY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS 1939-45, MOUNTED FOR WEAR.

D.C.M. London Gazette 13 January 1944:

‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’

The original Recommendation, for an Immediate award, dated 1 October 1943, states:

‘On 25th September, 1943, Lance-Corporal John Lathom Coombes was the Gunlayer in the leading tank commanded by a Sergeant supporting the 2/4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment in an attack at Cava de Tirreni [6 miles north-west of Salerno]. The tank was advancing down the main road which it was unable to leave due to the close precipitous nature of the country. As the tank advanced, it was held up by mines laid on the surface of the road. The Tank Commander got out of the tank to examine the mines when he was immediately shot by two enemy machine guns and fell in front of the tank in the road. Lance-Corporal Coombes immediately assumed command of the tank and engaged both enemy machine gun posts, though they were difficult to locate in the close country.

He then put down smoke from the tank and with great courage got out and ascertained that the tank Commander, who was lying in the road, was dead. He got back into his tank and informed his Troop Leader that be had taken command of the tank and again re-engaged the machine gun posts which then remained silent. With a depleted crew, he kept his tank in action for a further three hours during which time the tank was subjected to intense mortar fire and sniping. After three hours his tank was hit by an Anti-Tank gun which set it on fire and killed another member of the crew. Lance-Corporal Coombes again displaying sterling courage and devotion to duty ordered evacuation of the tank and still under machine gun fire and sniping, he evacuated successfully the remaining two members of the crew.

His sustained courage, great coolness and fighting spirit was a magnificent example and worthy of the finest traditions of the Royal Tank Regiment. I have the honour to recommend he be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.’

John Latham Coombes, from Fulham, a 24 year old clerk-salesman at Smithfield Meat Market Allocation Board, joined the Royal Tank Regiment in 1940. Serving as a gunlayer (the crewman who aimed the tanks gun) with the 40th (The King’s) Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment as part of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, his regiment, which was equipped with Valantine tanks, serving with the 8th Army in North Africa and was virtually annihilated by German anti-tank fire while crossing the minefield during the first battle of El Alamein………

SEE PDF FOR FULL WRITE-UP

Combes’s medals entitlement is confirmed on his WW2 campaign medals application card, noting additionally entitlement to 8th Army emblem. This also notes that Coombes was discharged in 1946 and that his last unit was 40th R.T.R., which confirms he will have served in Greece.

Condition, some small scratches to obverse of DCM, otherwise EF. Sold with copy recommendation and some digital research, including War diary entries for September 1943.

An extremely fine and scarce Sherman tank crews D.C.M. with a superb fighting citation.