Medals of WWII D-Day hero who helped to liberate Bergen-Belsen death camp are re-united with his family 30 years after they had to be sold to pay for widow’s care

A D-Day hero’s medals have been reunited with his family 30 years after they had to sell them to pay for his widow’s care.

Regimental Sergeant Major Eric Lines won the prestigious Military Medal for helping to defend Pegasus Bridge on June 6, 1944.

He went on to fight at Nijmegen during Operation Market Garden, was one of the first to cross the Rhine into Germany and helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Sergeant Major Lines died in 1977 and his children had to reluctantly sell his war medals to help pay for their mother Irene’s care in the 1990s.

Thirty years later, the family found out they were coming up for sale at auction. A friend who was doing some online research spotted them.

The Lines family all chipped in to bid and saw off fierce competition to secure the return of the medals and his personal effects for a hammer price of £2,600 at London-based auctioneers Noonans.

Sergeant Major Lines’ son Des said they were ‘determined not to miss out’ on getting his late father’s medals, ceremonial sword and other mementos.

Mr Lines, a 62-year-old painter and decorator from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said afterwards: ‘My father died when he was 56 when I was 14 and my mother, Irene, carried on until she was 93.

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His medal group consists of the Military Medal; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1962-2007; Army Long Service Medal 

‘It got to the point where she needed various things and we decided we had to sell the medals to pay for that.

‘A friend of ours found the Noonans page online with Eric Lines’ medals for sale.

‘They checked with me and asked ‘is this your dad’ and I said yes.

‘From that moment, we were determined to get the medals back.

‘The whole family chipped in and one of my daughter’s went down with my friend to the auction.

‘We are very pleased to be reunited with the medals and I can’t wait to show them to my nine-year-old grandson who has been doing history at school.’

Mark Quayle, associate director of Noonans, said: ‘We are delighted that we have been able to help facilitate the return of these medals to the recipient’s family.’

Sergeant Major Lines was born in Yorkshire in 1921 and enlisted in the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Artillery, in March 1938.

Sergeant Major Lines’ son Des said they were ‘determined not to miss out’ on getting his late father’s medals, ceremonial sword and other mementos

Also included in the sale was Sergeant Major Lines’ uniform

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Sergeant Major Lines’ other personal effects included a boxed set of cutlery, trophies and clock

He became sergeant of 368 Battery, 113 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in April 1941, advancing to Sergeant in February 1942.

On D-Day he manned a gun in an exposed position as the Germans bombarded the strategically important Pegasus Bridge over the Orne river.

But the doughty Yorkshireman stood firm in the face of the relentless short range enemy artillery fire.

Sergeant Major Lines was also in the thick of the action during ill-fated Operation Market Garden and was later among the first men to make the Rhine Crossing.

The final month of the Second World War was likely his most harrowing as he helped liberate Belsen-Bergen concentration camp, where 50,000 prisoners including Anne Frank died.

His Military Medal citation reads: ‘This NCO has displayed the greatest gallantry through the whole of the NWE (North West Europe) campaign.

‘Because of his well-known aggressive spirit he has been allotted in each deployment the most dangerous position for his gun, and on each occasion he has more than justified the confidence placed in him.

‘Immediately on landing in June 44 his gun was deployed in defence of Pegasus br. over the river Orne at Benouville.

‘The position was directly exposed to enemy short range artillery fire, so that movement outside the gun-pit was impossible by day; and all food & amn.. had to be brought up by night.

Some of Sergeant Major Lines’ other personal effects, including a photo album

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The D-Day hero’s suitcase was also up for sale and has been bought back by Sergeant Major Lines’ family

A side-on view of some of Sergeant Major Lines’ prestigious medal set

‘Nevertheless his gun engaged enemy a/c coming within range with steady and accurate fire regardless of the covering fire given by the enemy arty.

‘At Nijmegen in September 44 his gun was in a similar position on the North bank of the Waal river beside the East fort, when the Regt. deployed in defence of the town a few days after its capture, and at the Rhine crossing his gun was the first to cross Twist br. on D-day.

‘At Belsen in April 45 Sjt. Lines took a leading part in organisation of the female camp of some 10,000 women.

‘He was i/c reception, and his sympathetic handling of the thousands of forlorn creatures rescued from the Concentration Camp evoked a personal letter from the Mil. Gov. Comd. recommending his outstanding work for recognition.

‘Whatever job was allotted to him, Sgt. Lines has always maintained the highest personal standards – his steadiness under fire, his cheerfulness, his physical fitness, and his aggressive spirit have been a magnificent example to everyone in his Bty.’

Post war, Sergeant Major Lines remained in the army and served with the 33rd Parachute Light Regiment, 289 Parachute Regiment, 3rd Light Regiment, HQ Ulster Defence Regiment and Commandant of the Joint Service Parachute Centre.

He remained in the army until his retirement in 1976 after 38 years of service and then spent his final years in Wakefield.

His medal group consists of the Military Medal; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1962-2007; Army Long Service Medal.