{"product_id":"9th-queen-s-royal-lancers-rac-ww2-medal-group-saltaire-yorkshire-north-africa","title":"9th Queen’s Royal Lancers RAC WW2 Medal Group Saltaire Yorkshire North Africa","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSecond World War Medal Group of 5 – Trooper Cyril Boyes, 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers, RAC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1939-45 Star – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfrica Star with 8\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Army clasp – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eItaly Star – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDefence Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWar Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWith box of issue addressed: \u003cb\u003e19 Herbert Street, Saltaire, Shipley, Yorkshir\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eCyril Boyes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e21st August 1909 at Shipley, Yorkshire\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eSam Willie Boyes\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eManetta Boyes\u003c\/b\u003e. At the time of the \u003cb\u003e1911 Census\u003c\/b\u003e, he was recorded as an infant living with his parents at \u003cb\u003e11 Helen Street, Saltaire, Shipley\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBy the time of the \u003cb\u003e1921 Census\u003c\/b\u003e, the family had moved to \u003cb\u003e2 Mary Street, Saltaire\u003c\/b\u003e, where \u003cb\u003eCyril Boyes, aged 11\u003c\/b\u003e, was again living with his parents and younger brother \u003cb\u003eLeslie Boyes\u003c\/b\u003e. The Boyes family were part of the large textile-working communities that characterised the Saltaire and Shipley district during the early twentieth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePrior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Boyes was working as a \u003cb\u003eCommercial Traveller dealing in Textile Piece Goods\u003c\/b\u003e, reflecting the importance of the Yorkshire wool and textile trade in the region. The \u003cb\u003e1939 Register\u003c\/b\u003e records him living at \u003cb\u003eShipley, Yorkshire\u003c\/b\u003e, together with his wife \u003cb\u003eLily Boyes\u003c\/b\u003e, whom he had married shortly before the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDuring the Second World War, Boyes served in the \u003cb\u003eBritish Army with the Royal Armoured Corps\u003c\/b\u003e, being posted to the \u003cb\u003e9th Queen’s Royal Lancers\u003c\/b\u003e. His service number was \u003cb\u003e7920334\u003c\/b\u003e, and he held the rank of \u003cb\u003eTrooper\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe \u003cb\u003e9th Queen’s Royal Lancers\u003c\/b\u003e were an experienced cavalry regiment which had converted from horse cavalry to an armoured unit prior to the war. As part of the \u003cb\u003e2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division\u003c\/b\u003e, the regiment saw action in \u003cb\u003eFrance during the 1940 campaign\u003c\/b\u003e, before withdrawing to Britain after the collapse of Allied resistance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn \u003cb\u003eSeptember 1941\u003c\/b\u003e, the regiment sailed for \u003cb\u003eNorth Africa\u003c\/b\u003e, where it served with the \u003cb\u003eEighth Army\u003c\/b\u003e during the Western Desert campaign. The 9th Lancers played a notable role in the fighting around \u003cb\u003eGazala and the long withdrawal to El Alamein\u003c\/b\u003e, operating Crusader and later Sherman tanks in some of the most intense armoured fighting of the war. According to General \u003cb\u003eSir Richard McCreery\u003c\/b\u003e, the regiment was instrumental in helping halt \u003cb\u003eRommel’s advance toward Alexandria during the critical fighting of July 1942\u003c\/b\u003e, their tanks and anti-tank fire helping to stop German forces along the \u003cb\u003eRuweisat Ridge\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing extensive training with the newly issued \u003cb\u003eM4 Sherman tanks\u003c\/b\u003e, the regiment took part in the decisive \u003cb\u003eSecond Battle of El Alamein\u003c\/b\u003e, where British armoured forces gradually broke through the heavily fortified Axis defensive positions. During these battles the regiment gained a reputation for exceptional gunnery; \u003cb\u003eCorporal Nicholls of B Squadron\u003c\/b\u003e was personally congratulated by \u003cb\u003eGeneral Bernard Montgomery\u003c\/b\u003e after destroying nine enemy tanks in a single day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfter the Allied victory in North Africa, the regiment later moved to the \u003cb\u003eItalian theatre\u003c\/b\u003e, landing there in \u003cb\u003emid-1944\u003c\/b\u003e. The 9th Lancers fought in the difficult mountainous fighting of the \u003cb\u003eItalian Campaign\u003c\/b\u003e, including operations around \u003cb\u003eSan Savino during the battles for the Gothic Line in September 1944\u003c\/b\u003e. In the final stages of the war the regiment helped spearhead the \u003cb\u003eEighth Army’s advance to the River Po in the spring of 1945\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFor his wartime service with the regiment, \u003cb\u003eTrooper Cyril Boyes\u003c\/b\u003e qualified for the following campaign medals:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1939–45 Star\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAfrica Star with 8\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Army clasp\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eItaly Star\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDefence Medal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWar Medal 1939–1945\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHis medal application confirms his post-war address as \u003cb\u003e19 Herbert Street, Saltaire, Shipley, Yorkshire\u003c\/b\u003e, where the medals were issued to him on \u003cb\u003e10th January 1949\u003c\/b\u003e following his release from service under \u003cb\u003eClass “A” demobilisation\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBoyes returned to civilian life in Yorkshire following the war, having served with one of the British Army’s most distinguished armoured regiments during the campaigns in \u003cb\u003eNorth Africa and Italy\u003c\/b\u003e, theatres which proved decisive in the defeat of Axis forces in the Mediterranean.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54436349935962,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260316_111317.png?v=1784231036","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/9th-queen-s-royal-lancers-rac-ww2-medal-group-saltaire-yorkshire-north-africa","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}