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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 108

The Second World War campaign group of four awarded to Guardsman K. O. Gammell, Grenadier Guards; reputedly the tallest man in the Brigade of Guards (standing at 6ft. 7 1/2in. tall) he was destined for a fine academic career but instead enlisted in the British Army upon the outbreak of war, tragically he died on Christmas Eve 1943 of wounds received during the Italian Campaign

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army (2622616 Gdsmn K.O. Gammell Grenadier Guards); Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, all privately and contemporarily engraved '2622616 Gdsmn K.O. Gammell Grenadier Guards' in upright capitals, mounted court-style for wear, sometime lacquered, about extremely fine (4)

Kenrick Orm Gammell, son of Kensington and Doris Gammell, was born in Bedford on 18 May 1910. Clearly academically gifted, after education at Bedford School (a boys public school founded in 1552) he went up to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (1928-31) and graduated with a B.A. Becoming a schoolmaster in Essex, the outbreak of war in September 1939 thwarted his plans to take up a post as Headmaster of Akley Preparatory School and instead he enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, being posted to the 6th Battalion after his basic training.

Formed in 1941, the 6th Battalion was posted to Syria in September 1942 and saw action in the Tunisia campaign before participating in the invasion of Italy a year later. On 23 October 1943, Gammell was severely wounded in an action near Naples and evacuated to North Africa. Sadly he succumbed to his injuries on 24 December and is buried at Bone Military Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria. In addition to an obituary in the 'Bedfordshire Times and Standard' (7 January 1944), his grave bears the moving epitaph: 'Thoughts Too Deep For Words. A Very Dear Only Son. He Was 6 Feet 7 1/2 Inches Tall'.

Sold together with a Guards Depot Recruits Musketry prize medal in the form of a watch-fob, engraved Rct. K. Gammell. For his father's Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, see Lot 107.

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Estimate
£80 to £120

Starting price
£60