The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Bartram, Alfred Rank: Serjeant Service No: 5045681 Regiment: 6 Battalion Grenadier Guards Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy Award: Military Medal Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 29 June 1944 Date 1944 Catalogue reference WO 373/6 201st Guards (Independent) Brigade, 5th Division, 10 Corps 5045681 War Substantive Sergeant Alfred BARTRAM, 6th Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS TRIMONSUOLI 29th January - 30th January 1944. This Sergeant was in Command of a Platoon during a night attack. On arriving within 300 yards of his objective this Platoon was held up by heavy automatic and rifle fire. Owing to the quick appreciation and immediate action taken by this Sergeant the Platoon was able to resume the advance and succeeded in reaching its objective, 10 prisoners being taken and some Germans killed. As soon as he had consolidated, this Sergeant then reconnoitred forward with another Guardsman, found a German dugout and brought back 14 more prisoners from it. The skilful and resolute handling of this Platoon resulted in low casualties, and the initiative shown in mopping up and exploiting this surprise is worthy of the highest commendation, while the capture of 24 prisoners, due entirely to his leadership, had a great effect on the moral of his Platoon. Signed Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 6th Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS Granted an Immediate M.M. ----------- From http://www.baldwin.co.uk/ww2-gustav-line-mm-group-to-sgt-bartram-6-g-gds.html?usrc=1 "... Alfred Bartram, of Battersea Park, London (SW11), joined the Grenadier Guards in 1931 (possibly from the North Staffordshire Regiment, as indicated by his service number’s block allocation) and served with the BEF in France with the Anti-Tank Coy, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, but was evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940. He later served with the 6th Battalion in North Africa and then in Italy (a handwritten letter states No 3 Coy) but was eventually transferred to the 5th Battalion when the 6th Battalion was disbanded in 1944. It was here in Italy that he won his ‘Immediate’ MM at Trimonsuoli,(Tremensuoli) and was also wounded in action (arm, as referred to in one letter) during the same month. On the basis of a very specific similarity in its citation, it was would appear that on the day that Sergeant Bartram won his MM, he was under the command of Lt (later Captain) John Elwyn Renton, who won the MC on the same day and in the very same circumstances (as shown in his obituary in the Grenadier Gazette of 2011) - although the officer’s more detailed recommendation shows that artillery, snipers, machine guns and mortar-fire added greatly to the dangers of this attack. Following the war he served back with the 3rd Battalion and was discharged in 1953. He died in 1974. A total of 124 MMs and 2 bars were awarded to the Grenadier Guards for WW2. Sold with a small archive of handwritten letters from Sgt Bartram to his wife, plentiful research and a contemporary copy of his MM citation." ------- see also http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/32479-gallantry-awards-honours-grenadier-guards/?p=397886
