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A Scarce Ww2 Greek Counter Insurgency Operations M.M A SCARCE WW2 GREEK COUNTER INSURGENCY OPERATIONS M.M. GROUP TO A GUNNER RA WHO ACTING AS AN INFANTRYMAN WAS INVOLVED IN THE CHAOTIC AND BRUTAL FIGHTING IN ATHENS BETWEEN DECEMBER 1944 AND JANUARY 1945 WHERE SO MANY COMBATANTS AND CIVILIANS LOST THEIR LIVES MILITARY MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘14246146 GNR. J. L. HULMES. R.A.’, 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR; ITALY STAR, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS M.M. London Gazette 10 May 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.’ 64th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was deployed to Greece in late 1944. At this time German forces had been defeated in Greece and 64th Regiment had been converted to infantry as the need for anti Aircraft units had been greatly reduced in that theatre of operations. The aim of this was so that units like the 64th would take over the roles of guarding POW’s, policing work etc, freeing up regular Infantry troops. However with the German forces being pushed out of the country, their was a political vacuum, in which Greek partisan, Communist and loyalist forces vied for power, with the British being heavily involved. As such, many of the units that had been deployed as secondary troops, ended up in the middle of a brutal couple of months of fighting. Gunner Hulmes, who’s unit was based in Athens, would have been involved in the heavy fighting against ELAS forces and it was for his gallantry during this time that he was Awarded the Military Medal. Among other fighting, men from the 64th regiment, along with forces from the Greek Brigade were involved in the defence of Averoff Prison when it was assaulted. From ‘After the Battle’ magazine: ‘..On December 18, at dusk, ELAS scored a major success when they stormed Averoff Prison in the Northern Athens. Located along Alexandras Avenue north of Mount Lykavitos, the jail complex lay outside the British perimeter. ELAS planned the action in order to get their hands on two former collaborationist Prime Ministers, General Georgios Tsolakoglou (April 1941-December 1942) and Ioannis Rallis (April 1943 - October 1944), and others awaiting trial for alleged collaboration or war crimes. The prison, which held some 640 inmates, was guarded by gunners from the 64th Light Battery RA and about 150 men from the Greek Brigade. While one part of the 1,000 strong attacking force kept the building under a heavy barrage of small-arms fire and grenades, another set the west block of the prison alight. While the flames threatening to engulf the prisoners in their cells, the British commander had no option but to open the cells and order the inmates to rendezvous at a point outside the prison walls. In the chaos and confusion, less than half of the prisoners made it. Many others were slaughtered by the frenzied mob and several of the British soldiers were murdered as well…’ See the following link for a good brief summary of events in Greece; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekemvriana Hulmes Award is one of some 100 awards for those involved in counter insurgency operations in Greece in December 1944 and January 1945; 3 of which went to Hulmes unit. During this time 1000’s of combatants on both sides were killed and wounded (approximately 1300 British) and it is thought around 20,000 civilians lost their lives. As such, the recommendations for these politically sensitive awards have been ‘closed’ for 75 years. Therefore it would be hoped these recommendations will be made available in a year or two. Condition NEF. Medals unmounted. An intriguing award for gallantry for operations that have been somewhat swept under the carpet by the British Government. .
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