Description
The Very Gallant, Immediate Anzio Landing, MM Group of 5 to Private W.E.L. Nairn, 1st Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment, who as a result of his MM Action was severely wounded by a mine resulting in his left leg being amputated below the knee he was originally recommended for the DCM -MM GVIR, (2766058 Pte. W.E.L. Nairn. Y. &L.R.), 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, 1939-45 Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, unnamed as issued, mounted for wear lightly toned very fine.
MM London Gazette 20 July 1944:
On March 13th 1944, on the Anzio Beachhead, Private Nairn was detailed as a member of a small patrol to penetrate the German lines under cover of darkness, locate their positions and if opportunity offered to capture a prisoner. During the course of the patrol and while within enemy lines, the patrol entered a small uncharted minefield and the patrol commander who was leading was killed.
Private Nairn, showing great presence of mind immediately took command and ordering the other two members of the patrol to cover him, crawled forward to where the patrol commander lay. On finding that he was dead he started to return to the others but in doing so exploded four mines which seriously wounded him with multiple injuries in the foot, legs, stomach, face and arms and slightly injured the other two. Seeing that nothing further could be done Private Nairn ordered the others to withdraw and they set out carrying him between them.
At 02.00 hrs after going some distance and avoiding two parties of Germans, they were stopped by 2 sentries who ordered them in English to lay down their arms and marched off the two slightly wounded men saying that they would bring back a stretcher party for Private Nairn, who was left lying on the ground. As soon as they were gone, Private Nairn with complete disregard for his wounds and despite the great pain which he was suffering started to crawl back to his company position.
After two and a half hours he succeeded in reaching our wire, but then he failed to attract attention of the sentries and it was not until after daylight at 0900 hrs that he was seen and brought in. It was entirely due to Private Nairn’s magnificent courage and sense of duty that very valuable information of the enemy’s dispositions was obtained. Had he allowed himself to be captured and receive the medical attention which his wounds demanded no news of this patrol could possibly have reached us.
