Military Medal GVIR - later issue medal (3390716 SGT. E. URWIN ROYAL TANK R.); 1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded.
Ernest Urwin was born in Sunderland, Durham on 15 October 1914.According to the 1939 Register he was a Butcher journeyman and Cutter living at 376 Warley Road, Blackpool. With the onset of WWII he enlisted with the Royal Tank Regiment, serving with their 4th Battalion in France & Germany. He was awarded an immediate Military Medal in the London Gazette of 12 July 1945 for his bravery and devotion to duty.
The citation reads thus:
"During the crossing of the Rhine on night March 23/24 1945 and subsequently during the ferry service operated by A Squadron 4th Bn Royal Tank Regiment on 25,26, 27 and 28 March, this NCO showed outstanding devotion to duty and most praiseworthy standards of leadership. During most of the period 23 to 28 March his Troop Commander was not commanding his troop owing to shortage of commanders for other duties and Sjt Urwin took entire control of the direction and leadership of the troop. During the early stages of the operation there was considerable activity by the enemy in the form of mortar fire and intermittent machine gun fire laid down on fixed lines on the lanes the Sqdn was using for ferry service.
In spite of this Sjt Urwin continued to operate his craft and to encourage and supervise the handling and loading of craft, not only in his won troop, but of others which happened to be near from time to time. Altogether Sjt Urwin showed the finest example possible of devotion to duty under very arduous and hazardous conditions and by his example encouraged those engaged in the operation with him."
His medals were posted to him on 16 May 1949 to 376 Warley Road, Blackpool, Lancs - the same address he was at in 1939.
He died in Chorley, Lancashire in December 1989.
N.B. This MM is a later issue, it is correctly named and is not named (replacement), (r), (dupilcate) or (d). The original group of medals is known to exist in private hands.
