Home of the Infantry Regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire
France Honours Wiltshire Soldier with Top Award
93 year old Bob Shergold from Great Wishford, who served in the Wiltshire Regiment during World War 2 has been awarded the ‘Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur’. This will be presented to him at an award ceremony in The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum on Friday 15 Jan 2016 at 1200 hrs.
Bob Shergold served with 5th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment and landed at Arromanches in France during Operation Overlord for the start of the Allied offensive breakout through Normandy.
Bob Shergold is a member of his local Royal British Legion Branch and some of his fellow members will be joining him for this great event.
Further Background Information.
Bob Shergold served with 5th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment which was then part of 129 Infantry Brigade of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division (along with the sister Battalion, 4th Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment)
Landing at Arromanches on 18th June 1944 the Battalion settled initially at Sommervieu before taking part in its first action at Hill 112, successfully assaulting over the Oden River and capturing the small town of Maltot. During fierce counter attacks by German forces some few days later, Bob was wounded in the ankle, legs and face and evacuated back to England in early July, by landing craft to Portsmouth.
After recovering from his wounds, in November 1944 Bob rejoined his Battalion, which was now in Holland. After two months of intensive training and working as a newly appointed battalion sniper, the Division was selected to take part in Operation Market Garden, and his Battalion was part of the Allied offensive advancing Northeast out of Nijmegen towards Arnhem and the Rhine River in February 1945. This was a period of intense close quarter fighting and
on 2 March, while conducting a reconnaissance patrol with members of B Company, he and his patrol members were captured and taken prisoners of war near Calcar. He remained a POW until relieved by Canadian Forces at Leuwarden some few months later.
In September 1945 Bob transferred to RAOC where he remained serving until being released in December 1946.
Our photo shows Bob (seated) being presented with his medal, watched by family members and invited guests.