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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 316

The General Service Medal awarded to Private E. J. Symons, Royal West Kent Regiment, who was killed in action during the fierce Battle of Leros, November 1943

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6341651. Pte. E. Symons. R. W. Kent. R.), good very fine

Ernest James Symons, a native of Sydenham, London, was born in 1912 and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Second World War. In September 1943, the Battalion had been ordered to the defence of the Greek Islands, and in the second week of November, on Leros, was more or less wiped out, reeling under a ferocious German invasion. The attack began when the enemy made a seaborne attack followed by some 700 paratroopers that swarmed the island. In bitter and confused fighting, besides relentless aerial attacks and with companies acting independently, all but 43 men were killed or taken prisoner within 24 hours. Symons was killed in action at some point between 12-16 November and is commemorated upon the Athens Memorial; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£380

Starting price
£170