WW2 Territorial Group to Dawson REME – Twice MID

A fabulous WW2 group of six medals including 1939-45 star, Africa star with 1st Army bar, Italy star, Defence medal, 1939-45 War medal with MID emblem and the Territorial Efficiency medal correctly named to 206394 Warrant Officer 1st Class S. R. Dawson. Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
WO1 Dawson was serving with the Royal Army Service Corps territorials when war broke out, part of the 1st Armoured Brigade Company RASC from 16.11.40, 1st Army Tank Brigade: Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) 01/03/1941 - 31/12/1941.
1st Army Tank Brigade: RASC (Royal Army Service Corps). 01/01/1942 - 31/12/1942. 1st Armoured Brigade: RASC (Royal Army Service Corps) 01/02/1942 - 31/08/1942. Part of the 13th Corps Supply Column.
At the start of World War II, the brigade was based in the United Kingdom, initially as part of the 1st Armoured Division and then as part of the newly formed 2nd Armoured Division. In November 1940, it was shipped to Egypt, arriving on 1 January 1941. In March 1941, the brigade was dispatched to Greece as part of General Maitland Wilson's unsuccessful attempt at stopping the German invasion. On 29 April 1941, the brigade was evacuated to Egypt.
The 1st Armoured Brigade served in the Western Desert Campaign with the 7th Armoured Division at the Battle of El Alamein. The brigade was used for tank delivery from August to October 1942 before being disbanded on 21 November 1942.
In October 1942, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) was established to meet these technological challenges. This unit of dedicated technicians, mechanics and electricians drew its personnel from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Army Service Corps, the Royal Engineers and the Royal Signals. So WO1 Dawson was transferred around this time and served with; 2nd Base Workshops 13.11.42 - 16.01.43. 2nd Workshop Company REME 16.01.43 - 31.05.43.
2nd Base Workshops REME 31.05.43 - 03.06.44: 2nd Base Workshop (REME) 1943 Jan.- June. 2nd Base Workshop (REME) 1943 July- Dec. 2 Base Workshop (REME Wksps) 1944 Jan.- June. 139th Infantry Brigade R.E.M.E. Wksps from 03.06.44 - December 1945.
139th brigade formed part of the 46th division. In late 1942 the 46th Division was sent to North Africa where it became part of British First Army and saw action in the final stages of the Tunisia Campaign. The division did not see service in Sicily but landed at Salerno in September 1943 as part of the US Fifth Army during the initial invasion of Italy. The brigade saw service in Italy until late 1944, transferring to Greece to help calm the Greek Civil War, and returning to Italy in April 1945 for the final offensive, but did not take part in any actual fighting.
Dawson was mentioned in dispatches twice, the first appeared in the London Gazette on 11th January 1945 and the second in the gazette on 29th November 1945. Both gazette entries are confirmed. He was awarded the TEFM in 1946.
All six medals are mounted for wear in a contemporary manner and comes with two original cap badges and various copied paperwork research. A very interesting group for further research, it was Field Marshal Montgomery that remarked that REME would ‘keep the punch in the Army's fist’. The unit went on to provide a vital service, keeping the Army moving and fighting in all theatres.

Code: 29303