WORLD WAR TWO

WORLD WAR TWO, MILITARY CROSS GROUP OF EIGHT OF MAJOR ERIC NELSON MAINWARING OF THE 5TH BATTALION THE QUEEN'S OWN HIGHLANDERS, Military Cross dated 1943 and engraved MAJOR E N MAINWARING QO CAMERON HIGHLANDERS, 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, 8th Army clasp, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal with 'mention' emblem and Efficiency Decoration Territorial suspender, reverse engraved 1963, the medals of his father, comprising British War Medal and Victory Medal 243651 PTE J [OHN] N [ELSON] MAINWARING [1888-1974] L'POOL R and an extensive archive of documents principally relating to the service of 67628 MJR E N MAINWARNG (B1916) the son of J N Mainwaring, Cotton Broker of Walton, Liverpool including his commission as a 2nd Lieut in the Territorial Army, 1 May 1936, a handwritten log of his life, particularly events and service in a memorandum book, a shoe box full of wartime letters to his fiancé Miss Joan Sampson of the ATS, framed Mention in Despatches dated 20 December 1940, Certificate of Service, miscellaneous official and private documents including letters to his father and his portrait by Hans Hofmeier Worpswede (1907-1997), bust length in uniform, signed and dated '45 upper right, oil on canvas board, painted in Westertimke, Saxony and a photograph and certificate of service of his fatherProvenance: The recipients, thence by descent to Major Mainwaring's daughter, the late Jane E Love.Military Cross: London Gazette, 18 May 1943. The citation reads: During the enemy attack on 6, 7 and 8 Mar. 43 and for the two days preceding it, this officer was in command of the screen in front of our positions from Dawn to Dusk. He was operating in very open country in full view of the enemy's artillery and small arms fire. He showed the most outstanding bravery and leadership. He walked from carrier to carrier encouraging the crews across shell swept ground. On two occasions carriers became stuck and this officer showing the utmost coolness and determination and disregard for his personal safety, directed their recovery although they were the target of the enemy artillery. Throughout these days this officer's conduct has been an inspiration to all ranks.TYhe Battle of Medenine, Tunisia saw the final defeat by the British Eighth Army of the Afrika Korps. Rommel left Africa for the last time, immediately afterwards.Major Eric Nelson Mainwaring enlisted in the Territorial Army, serving with the Cheshire Yeomanry from 15 March 1934 and was subsequently commissioned in the Liverpool Scottish Regiment. He transferred to the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders on 25 December 1942 and joined the Army Reserve in the rank of Capt on 1 September 1948.