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Two Day Fine Militaria Auction (105) 26/10/22 11:30 AM Closed

Starts Ending 26/10/22 11:30 AM CEST

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Lot 620Historically and Regimentally Important Officers Service Dress Peaked Cap of Major John Marin Wiseman MC, One of the Founding Members of the Long Range Desert Group / Special Air Service

Historically and Regimentally Important Officers Service Dress Peaked Cap of Major John Marin Wiseman MC, One of the Founding Members of the Long Range Desert Group / Special Air Service

Historically and Regimentally Important Officers Service Dress Peaked Cap of Major John Martin Wiseman MC One of the Founding Members of the Long Range Desert Group / Special Air Service, fine example of an officers khaki service dress peaked cap which has a superb early pattern, probably Cairo made embroidered SAS cap badge which has been mounted to the cap by using another cap badge, soldering the badge to the crown and slider fitting. When the badge is removed you can see outline of another badge once being present, this would have been either his parent regiment or former regiment. Cap has the original leather chinstrap and brass general service side buttons. To one side of the cap is a small red pin which has been fitted to the cap, the relevance of this is yet to be found. The cap interior has leather sweatband with Bates makers details. Under the sweatband is the original name label. The cap shows service wear with staining to the sweatband in the forehead section. Accompanied by a copy of an original photograph of the early members of the SAS / LRDG, where Wiseman is standing on the far right wearing a peaked cap. John Martin Wiseman MC, was born to Jewish parents on 27th January 1916. He was educated at St Pauls school and Pembroke College, Cambridge where he studied languages. In 1937, Wiseman joined his fathers optical instrument company. At the outbreak of the war, Wiseman attempted to join the Royal Air Force, but was requested to wait until contacted, eager to do his part in the war, Wiseman chose to join the North Somerset Yeomanry as a trooper. He was sent to North Africa with the North Somerset Yeomanry where he fought against the Vichy French. Due to his knowledge of languages, he was put forward for officer training in Cairo and eventually was given a commission in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. On hearing of David Stirling’s intention to form the Special Air Service, he sought Stirling out at his Cairo apartment. Wiseman joined the SAS and was present at their training camp in Karbit, Egypt. Wiseman was involved in many of the early operations in North Africa with the SAS / Long Range Desert Group, attacking enemy airfields and columns etc. Due to his experience with the SAS, Wiseman was given command of a section of the Special Raiding Squadron under Paddy Mayne in Sicily. Wiseman's unit scaled the cliffs of Cape Murro di Porco on the morning of 10 July 1943, in order to assault a coastal battery defending the beaches to be landed by the main Allied force. Achieving surprise, his small force killed, captured or wounded 40 of the enemy, while suffering no casualties themselves. In all, in 17 hours the SRS, in support of the British XIII Corps, had killed over 200 Italians, captured a further 450, and silenced three batteries of guns. For this action, Wiseman was awarded the Military Cross, the official recommendation as follows: “For the attack on the Coastal Battery 183239 on Cape Moro Di Porco on 10 July 1943 Lieut John Wiseman D,C,L,I, had Commando of the leading section of the forward Troop. While the Battery was under fire from our mortars, by clever use of ground he lead his section to the outskirts of the position without being detected and made his way through the wire. Immediately the mortar fire finished he went straight in achieving complete surprise, killing, capturing and wounding 40 of the enemy. By his good leadership and control he achieved this without sustaining a single casualty to his Section. Although the darkness of the night made control difficult he maintained complete command and the information which he sent back was invaluable to the proper conduct of the operation.” By the time of the Allied operations in Italy, Wiseman was a lieutenant and a section commander within 1 Troop. During a German counterattack on Termoli on the east coast of southern Italy, Wiseman was the only survivor after a German shell killed 17 of his men in a direct hit on their truck, with Wiseman leaning out the window in the passenger seat talking to a runner. The shell, probably a stray shot, had caused the single biggest loss of the SAS, and had likely been exacerbated by the fact many of the men had been carrying armed Hawkins grenades as they had been about to depart to shore up a defensive line. By the time of the Normandy landings, Wiseman had reached the rank of captain commanding 1 Troop, A Squadron, 1 SAS. Wiseman was one of three troop commanders in A Squadron, which as the direct descendant of L Detachment. In June 1944 Wiseman took part in Operation Houndsworth, conducting operations behind the German lines in France, near Dijon, disrupting the German's reinforcement of their forces in Normandy, assisted by the French Maquis. On withdrawal of A Squadron back to England in September 1944, Wiseman was awarded the Croix de guerre, and on promotion to major was given command of SAS Headquarters. After the war, Wiseman returned to the family Optical instruments business. He died on 23rd August 2005. His Military Cross and a recording of his history is held at the Jewish Military Museum, London. This cap was purchased by the current vendor from a seller, tasked with disposing of items for the family.

Categories: Headdress
Estimate:
Lot closed - Winning bid:£16,000
Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000
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