Black Watch soldier’s medals sold

A Military Medal and six other medals awarded to a Dunfermline war hero have sold for £1,100 at auction .

The Military Medal was awarded to Dunfermline-born Black Watch soldier, Corporal Robert Drummond, for his extraordinary bravery at the decisive Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt in October 1942, during the Second World War.

The citation for Corporal Drummond’s MM said: “During the night attack on October 23-24 (1942) the Platoon, of which the Section which Corporal Drummond commanded formed part, was held up by a strong enemy position surrounded by wire and from which a large number of stick grenades were being thrown.

“The Platoon Commander was killed and the Platoon Sergeant seriously wounded and the attack at this point was in imminent danger of being held up.

“Corporal Drummond immediately took command of the Platoon and led a successful bayonet assault over the wire and into the enemy position – the surviving enemy thereupon surrendering.

“He thereafter reorganised the Platoon without delay and continued the advance.

“But for Corporal Drummond’s action, his platoon would undoubtedly have suffered heavy casualties from the enemy post referred to and the attack would have been held up at that point.

“This action very materially assisted in enabling his company to reach the final objective.”

Robert Drummond was born at Golfdrum Street, Dunfermline, on September 14, 1914, and, like his father, Alfred Drummond, he was a coal miner, before he joined the army.

When the Second World War was over, Mr Drummond returned to his beloved Dunfermline. He died aged 65.

Corporal Robert Drummond’s medals fetched £1,100.