Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A superb Second War ‘Defence of Singapore’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Acting Sergeant H. Salter, Royal Artillery, later Ulster Defence Regiment - originally recommended for the Victoria Cross, he was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Singapore, and spent the rest of the War in captivity Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (883359 A. Sjt. H. Salter. R.A.) surname officially corrected; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24273563 Cpl H Salter UDR); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (883359 Bdr. H. Salter. D.C.M. R.A.) mounted court-style as worn, light contact marks, good very fine and better (7) £7,000-£9,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 13 December 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942.’ The original Recommendation, by Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Lardner-Clarke, for a Victoria Cross, states: ‘At dawn on Sunday, 15th February 1942, “D” Troop, 251 Anti-Tank Battery, was taking up position in support of 4/Suffolks who, considerably disorganised, had withdrawn to Mount Pleasant Road during the night. Sergeant Salter was given his gun position by Lieutenant Carpenter and was leading his gun into it when he was suddenly attacked by a party of the enemy who came up a slope on his left. Considering on his own initiative that his anti-tank role was now of less importance he proceeded to wheel his gun into a better position to engage these enemy infantry on his left. This he did under heavy enemy machine gun fire and sniping from the trees close by, ordering the remainder of his detachment to take up fire positions and engage the enemy with small arms fire. As the fight continued it became apparent that a certain house held enemy machine guns and snipers. On his own initiative and at great personal danger he returned to the gun and without assistance loaded and fired six rounds into the house which caused the enemy to cease firing temporarily. The gun was now engaged by enemy mortars and after one of the detachment had been wounded Sergeant Salter withdrew it temporarily. Later, at 12:00hrs 4/Suffolks reported to 54 Infantry Brigade that a party of Japanese were holding another house on Mount Pleasant Road, in strength with machine-guns. These were causing considerable casualties amongst the infantry in the neighbourhood who were unable to drive them out. The position was extremely serious as the infantry were desperately fatigued and disorganised and any further penetration into the Mount Pleasant Road position then would have been fatal. Orders were given to Sergeant Salter to engage the house. Showing the utmost coolness and complete disregard of his own safety Sergeant Salter wheeled his gun forward to within forty yards of the house and under point blank machine-gun fire from it. In spite of the heavy enemy machine-gun fire Sergeant Salter doggedly continued to fire at the house until the enemy machine-guns were silenced and the house burst into flames. This caused the enemy to run out of the back of the house where they were shot by a party of 4/Suffolks. The situation was therefore completely cleared and the road re-opened for movement of troops. Throughout his action Sergeant Salter kept his head and displayed a most superlative bravery which had a great effect on the tired and disheartened troops by whom he was surrounded. On the previous day on the Bukit Timah Road Sergeant Salter destroyed an enemy light tank with his gun, in the face of heavy enemy fire.’ Harry Salter attested for the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) in Oxford, and served with the 251st Battery (Oxfordshire Yeomanry), 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A., in Singapore. He was taken Prisoner of War at the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and spent the rest of the War in captivity in Thailand. Repatriated following the cessation of hostilities, he transferred to the Reserve on 13 March 1946, and was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 27 of 1948. He subsequently served with the Ulster Defence Regiment.