The WW2 campaign group of six and GVI Memorial Cross issued to the next-of-kin of 273560 Andrew Sinclair who was killed in action Italy in April 1945 whilst serving with 27th (MG) Battalion, 2NZEF.

 

Andrew Sinclair was born in Glasgow on 19th May 1921, son of Malcom and Mary Sinclair. The family came to New Zealand in the 1920s and settled in Dunedin. Andrew enlisted in the 2nd NZEF in 1940 but didn't embark until December 1942. He served in Egypt prior to the surrender of the Afrika Korps, thereby qualifying for the Africa Star. He transferred to the Italian Front with the 27th (MG) Battalion and served continuously in the field until he was killed in action near Faenza on 14th April 1945. Sinclair was with his battalion as it moved forward to the Sillaro River, part of the wider offensive of the Battle of Bologne. The Official History of the 27th (MG) Battalion records:

 

"Divisional Cavalry and 22 Battalion had reached the Sillaro by early evening; the 27th set off on foot shortly after midnight and by daybreak had taken up flank protecting positions, again behind Divisional Cavalry and about 2000 yards back from the river. The first fatal casualty occurred during this advance. ‘Moving along the road we ran into mortar stonk,’ wrote Corporal Butt (8 Platoon). ‘Lost Andy Sinclair … & Doug Thomson was badly wounded.’ The companies were harassed by intermittent shell and nebelwerter fire, which slackened off in the afternoon.". Andrew Sinclair was buried in the Faenza War Cemetery.

All medals are unamed as issued. The Memorial Cross is correctly engraved in the alternative style often seen on Memorial Crosses named by contractors to the NZDF. The group comes with Sinclair's full service file.