Baldwin & Sons
Auction 101 28 September 2016
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ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MILITARY MEDALS, Gallantry Groups, The Lilburn Family Collection, comprising a framed and glazed Mention in Despatches Certificate awarded to Captain W. Lilburn, 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry dated 7th April 1918; a framed and glazed Great War Honourable Discharge Certificate awarded to Lieutenant Colonel W. Lilburn, The Highland Light Infantry, who was invalided from the Service 13 January 1921; a Second World War Military Cross, GVIR, un-named as issued officially dated 1945 in case of issue attributed to Lieutenant H.N. Lilburn, 1st Battalion The Glasgow Highlanders, Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment), in Royal Mint case of issue. Certificates very fine, Military Cross very fine. (3)
Lieutenant Colonel William Lilburn of Coull was the son of James Lilburn. He married Madeline Constance Maud Reid, daughter of Sir Hugh Reid of Springburn, 1st Baronet, on 10 February 1915. They had three sons, Alistair James Lilburn, born 15 December 1915; Hugh Neilson Lilburn, born 30 June 1922 and Ian Robertson Lilburn, born 2 June 1927. He gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry; he held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (DL) and Justice of the Peace (JP). He died on the 31 March 1958. His son Hugh Neilson Lilburn was Educated at Canford School, Wimborne, Dorset, and Pembroke College, Cambridge; he served as a Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion Glasgow Highlanders (HLI) during the Second World War, gaining the Military Cross on the 4/5 April 1945 at the crossing of the Dortmund-Ems Canal Hugh was Killed in Action on the 18 April 1945 aged 22.
Military Cross London Gazette, 12 July 1945
Citation:
Immediate Military Cross
Lt Lilburn was on 4/5 April Officer Commanding 10 Platoon, when the Battalion crossed the Dortmund-Ems Canal and attacked towards Drierwalde. When his Platoon was crossing the Canal in assault boats under heavy shell fire, his coolness set a high example to the men under him. Later the Company was in reserve, but came under Small Arms and 20-mm fire. During this phase Lt. Lilburn was active in searching for and destroying enemy snipers who were proving troublesome. Hearing that some wounded men were lying in the open still under enemy fire, he organised a party of Stretcher Bearers to bring them in. With one Stretcher Bearer he worked forward over the most exposed stretch under very heavy fire form 20-mm gun and succeeded in bringing in a wounded man. When contact with two forward Company's was temporarily lost and the situation was most obscure, he led forward a patrol and succeeded in contacting two forward Company's and bringing back most valuable information about these Company's and about the enemy. In carrying out this task he encountered the enemy and took 12-15 of them prisoner. Lt. Lilburn carried out all these duties in a very brave manner and with complete disregard to his personal safety. Throughout the day his bearing was an inspiration to all who came in touch with him and his conduct is worthy of the highest praise. (Since Killed in Action).
The Citation is signed B.L. Montgomery, Field Marshall, Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group.
Lieutenant H.N. Nielson is buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany. Provenance – Direct from the Family, sold with copied London Gazette Entries, Copied Citation and Commonwealth War Graves Details.
Estimate: £400-600
Lieutenant Colonel William Lilburn of Coull was the son of James Lilburn. He married Madeline Constance Maud Reid, daughter of Sir Hugh Reid of Springburn, 1st Baronet, on 10 February 1915. They had three sons, Alistair James Lilburn, born 15 December 1915; Hugh Neilson Lilburn, born 30 June 1922 and Ian Robertson Lilburn, born 2 June 1927. He gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry; he held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (DL) and Justice of the Peace (JP). He died on the 31 March 1958. His son Hugh Neilson Lilburn was Educated at Canford School, Wimborne, Dorset, and Pembroke College, Cambridge; he served as a Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion Glasgow Highlanders (HLI) during the Second World War, gaining the Military Cross on the 4/5 April 1945 at the crossing of the Dortmund-Ems Canal Hugh was Killed in Action on the 18 April 1945 aged 22.
Military Cross London Gazette, 12 July 1945
Citation:
Immediate Military Cross
Lt Lilburn was on 4/5 April Officer Commanding 10 Platoon, when the Battalion crossed the Dortmund-Ems Canal and attacked towards Drierwalde. When his Platoon was crossing the Canal in assault boats under heavy shell fire, his coolness set a high example to the men under him. Later the Company was in reserve, but came under Small Arms and 20-mm fire. During this phase Lt. Lilburn was active in searching for and destroying enemy snipers who were proving troublesome. Hearing that some wounded men were lying in the open still under enemy fire, he organised a party of Stretcher Bearers to bring them in. With one Stretcher Bearer he worked forward over the most exposed stretch under very heavy fire form 20-mm gun and succeeded in bringing in a wounded man. When contact with two forward Company's was temporarily lost and the situation was most obscure, he led forward a patrol and succeeded in contacting two forward Company's and bringing back most valuable information about these Company's and about the enemy. In carrying out this task he encountered the enemy and took 12-15 of them prisoner. Lt. Lilburn carried out all these duties in a very brave manner and with complete disregard to his personal safety. Throughout the day his bearing was an inspiration to all who came in touch with him and his conduct is worthy of the highest praise. (Since Killed in Action).
The Citation is signed B.L. Montgomery, Field Marshall, Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group.
Lieutenant H.N. Nielson is buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany. Provenance – Direct from the Family, sold with copied London Gazette Entries, Copied Citation and Commonwealth War Graves Details.
Estimate: £400-600