Description
A D Day Landings Sword Beach, Beach Control Group of 4 awarded to Private Ernest Charles Harpin, 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion comprising; 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, 1939-45 Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, unnamed as issue. Toned very fine
Sold with corresponding miniatures, Buckinghamshire Battalion Cap Badge and original AB64 – Soldiers Record and Pay Book
Private Harpin joined the Army as a Regular soldier aged 20 years, on the 16th January 1941 for 7 years with the colours and five on the reserve, he was demobilised from the Army in 1950, his AB 64 confirms the award of the medals as stated above.
1st Buckinghamshire Battalion
1943
In 1943 the battalion was selected to form the nucleus of a “Beach Group”, this new formation was designed to land vehicles and stores across open beaches in the early stages of a seaborne landing. In April 1943 the battalion moved to Scotland for training in this new role. The Battalion eventually became part of 101 Beach Sub Area of No 6 Beach Group part of 3rd British Infantry Division.
1944
The Battalion landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6th 1944. After fulfilling their Beach Group roles on SWORD Beach on 30th July the Group was officially dissolved and the battalion came under the command of the 1st Canadian Army and 6th Airborne Division for operations.
In August the battalion was broken up and sent as drafts to units which had suffered heavily in the Normandy campaign many of the battalion’s officers and men being posted as reinforcements to the 51st (Highland) Division. Eventually the battalion was reprieved from disbandment made up to strength again and reverted to a Lines of Communications battalion and served in Brussels as resident battalion.
1945
In February 1945 the Battalion was designated a “T” or Target Force Battalion designed to seize and hold targets of special importance such as radio transmitters, factories or secret weapons sites, this role the battalion carried out until the end of hostilities. After VE day the Battalion was stationed at Menden, Germany.
