A Battle of El Alamein Military medal group to SJT J E Lawton RA

GVI Military Medal, correctly impressed 902209 L . SJT. J. E. Lawton. R.A. 

1939 to 45 Star

Africa Star

Italy Star

France and Germany Star

Defence Medal

End of War Medal

GVI TEM, correctly impressed 902209 . SJT. J. E. Lawton. M.M. R.A. 

 

Swing Mounted.

 

Condition NGVF

 

 

James Edward Lawton was a native of Dunston on Tyne. A pre-war territorial in the Royal Artillery who saw active service during WW2.

 

Lawton was awarded the Military Medal for his action on the 1st of July 1942 during the Battle of El Alamein. The award was gazetted on 5th November 1942; the original citations is as follows;

 

'On 1st July in DEIR EL SHEIN near ALEMEIN when 288 Fd Bty were supporting the 18th Indian BDE who were heavily attacked by Germans, this N.C.O. showed consistent bravery and determination. The battery at that time was short of officers and had no W.O.s and SGT Lawton stepped into the breach. In the afternoon, he drove a truck to both of the forward troop positions under very heavy shell fire, and by transferring amn from one troop to another, kept the guns in action. Communication had been cut by shell fire, and SGT Lawton delivered important messages to the troop positions, driving his truck with coolness and determination through an intense concentration of enemy machine gun and shell fire. During the whole attack, SGT Lawton, by his courage and coolness, acted as a great inspiration to the men both at the troop positions and at the battery Command post. The position was finally evacuated SGT Lawton went all around the BTY H.Q. area and, in the face of intense fire, rounded up all the personnel and packed them on the remaining Bty H.Q. trucks'.