A 4th Indian Division B.E.M. Second World War medal group of 5 to a confirmed veteran of 'Monte Cassino': Sergeant John Charles Marriott, Royal Corps of Signals, 4th Indian Division

- British Empire Medal (Mily). GVI (2343874 Sgt. John C. Marriott. R.C.S.)
- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp
- The Africa Star. With clasp '8th Army'
- The Italy Star;
- War Medal 1939-45

Provenance: Collection of the late Lieutenant-Colonel 'Mike' Barrett, O.B.E., Queen's Gurkha Signals

Brith Empire Medal (Military) verification: The B.E.M. (Mily) was published in the London Gazette issue of, 19 April 1945, wherein the recipient is shown as No. 2343874 Sergeant John Charles Marriott, Royal Corps of Signals (Rotherham) - the latter place being his home town. The preamble to the published award states:

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The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the British Empire Medal (Military Division), in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy, to the undermentioned: —

Unquote.

The official recommendation for the British Empire Medal is quoted below:

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Throughout the whole of the recent operations 1st. May.'44 - 31st.Aug.'44, and previously in the attack on Cassino from Jan.- April - this N.C.O. was employed in the vitally important duty of Signal Office Superintendent at Main. Div. H.Q.
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As such he was responsible for dealing with a vast amount of Signal traffic, supervising the telephone exchange and lines, and many other small but important duties.

In spite of the fact that at times detachments were very much under strength and personnel were working very long hours, added to which units and formations were continually moving, never once was there any serious delays. This has been largely due to Sgt. Marriott, whose work has been of the highest standard, an example to all Signals and also of the utmost service to the Division.

Unquote.

Marriott's well-deserved award was initially recommended by the Royal Signals Lt-Colonel, who was officer commanding 4th Indian Division, Signals. The recommendation being approved by the General Officer Commanding, 4th Indian Division (Major-General A. W. W. Holworthy.), and finally passed by Lieutenant-General C. F. Keightley, Commanding 5th Corps

Basis his highly important - and trusted - appointment as Signal Office Superintendent of 4th Indian Division - The 'Kite Hawk's' - Sergeant Marriott was presumably knowledgeable about all aspects of orders issued to and delivered by the HQ Staff of 4th Indian Division in the period of their campaigning with 8th Army in North Africa and later in Italy, including the Battle of Monte Cassino

John Charles Marriott, son of Charles Marriott & Lucy Ann Marriott (nee Rushworth), was a native of, Rotherham, Yorkshire, England, where he was born on, 6 April 1913. At the time of the compilation of the National Register for England & Wales in 1939, John was resident at, 15 Brookville Avenue, Brighouse, Yorkshire, in which town he was employed as a 'Confectionary Salesman'. During the Second World War, John served with the Royal Corps of Signals, his unique 'Army Number' 2343874, being from the block allocated to the Corps of Signals in 1920, and which continued to be issued sequentially through to circa 1940/41. Promoted to Sergeant, John saw extensive active overseas service, in, North Africa & Italy - including present at Monte Cassino - while attached to 'Higher Command' of 4th Indian Division, and for which he was decorated with the award of the British Empire Medal. After taking his final discharge from the British Army, John Charles Marriott returned to his home town of Rotherham, where he is recorded as having died on, 3 October 1951, at which time he had been residing at, 81 Clough Bank, Clough Raod, Rotherham, England. His published 'Will' shows that he left his estate to his widowed mother, Lucy Ann Marriott

An excellent 'Kite-Hawks' 4th Indian Division, Italy campaign, B.E.M. group to a British N.C.O veteran of Monte Cassino

Sold together with hard-copy of the official B.E.M. recommendation

Condition: GVF

Code: 22277