A D-Day hero's medals have been reunited with his family, 30 years after they were forced to sell them to pay for his widow's care.
Regimental Sergeant Major Eric Lines won the prestigious Military Medal for his assistance in the defense of the Pegasus Bridge on June 6, 1944.
He fought near 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 the care of their mother Irene in the 1990s.
Thirty years later, the family discovered they were being offered for sale at auction. A friend researching online saw them.
The Lines family all joined in to bid and fended off stiff competition to secure the return of the medals and his personal belongings for a hammer price of £2,600 from London-based auctioneers Noonans.
Sergeant Major Lines' son said they were “determined not to miss his late father's medals, ceremonial sword and other memorabilia.”
Mr Lines, a 62-year-old painter and decorator from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said afterwards: 'My father died aged 56 when I was 14 and my mother, Irene, continued until she was 93.
A D-Day hero's medals have been reunited with his family, 30 years after they were forced to sell them to pay for his widow's care. Regimental Sergeant Major Eric Lines won the prestigious Military Medal on June 6, 1944 for his assistance in the defense of the Pegasus Bridge
His medal group consists of the Military Medal; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defense and War Medals 1939-45; General service 1962-2007; Army Long Service Medal
'It got to the point where she needed different 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 contacted me and asked 'is this your dad' and I said yes.
'From that moment on we were determined to get the medals back.
'The whole family helped and one of my daughters went to the auction with my friend.
'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 is doing history at school.'
Mark Quayle, Noonans deputy director, said: 'We are pleased to 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 this” in obtaining his late father's medals, ceremonial sword and other memorabilia.
The sale also included Sergeant Major Lines' uniform
Sergeant Major Lines' other personal belongings included a set of cutlery, trophies and a clock in a box
He became sergeant of 368 Battery, 113 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in April 1941 and rose to sergeant in February 1942.
On D-Day he manned a gun in an exposed position while the Germans bombed the strategically important Pegasus Bridge over the River Orne.
But the brave Yorkshireman held his ground despite relentless enemy artillery fire at close range.
Sergeant Major Lines was also in the thick of the action during the ill-fated Operation Market Garden and was later one of the first men to cross the Rhine.
The last month of World War II was probably his most harrowing as he helped liberate the Belsen-Bergen concentration camp, where 50,000 prisoners, including Anne Frank, died.
His military medal reads: 'This NCO displayed the greatest gallantry throughout the NWE (North-Western Europe) campaign.
“Because of his known aggressive spirit, he has been assigned the most dangerous position for his weapon on every deployment, and on each occasion he has more than justified the confidence placed in him.
'Immediately upon landing in June 44, his cannon was deployed in the defense of Pegasus br. across the River Orne at Benouville.
'The position was directly exposed to enemy short-range artillery fire, so that movement outside the gun emplacement during the day was impossible; and all food and drink had to be brought up at night.
Some other personal belongings of Sergeant Major Lines, including a photo album
The D-Day hero's suitcase was also for sale and was bought back by the family of Sergeant Major Lines
A side view of some of Sergeant Major Lines' prestigious medal sets
'Nevertheless, his gun engaged the enemy air conditioning unit that came within range with steady and accurate fire regardless of the enemy artist's covering fire.
'In September 44 his cannon was in a similar position in Nijmegen on the north bank of the Waal, next to the eastern fort, when the Regt. deployed to defend the city a few days after the conquest, and at the crossing of the Rhine his cannon was the first to hit Twist br. on D-day.
'At Belsen in April 45 Sjt. Lines played a leading role in organizing the women's camp of some 10,000 women.
'He was at the reception, and his sympathetic interaction with the thousands of abandoned creatures rescued from the concentration camp was reminiscent of a personal letter from the Mil. Governmental Comd. recommending his outstanding work for recognition.
“Whatever task he was assigned, Sergeant. Lines has always maintained the highest personal standards – his fortitude under fire, his cheerfulness, his physical fitness and his aggressive spirit have set a wonderful example to all in his Bty.'
After the war, Sergeant Major Lines remained in the army, serving with the 33rd Parachute Light Regiment, 289 Parachute Regiment, 3rd Light Regiment, HQ Ulster Defense Regiment and commanding 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; Defense and War Medals 1939-45; General service 1962-2007; Army Long Service Medal.
