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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 511

(x) An emotive 'P.O.W. Escaper's' Territorial Force Efficiency Medal to Private G. W. Garside, Army Catering Corps, late Royal Artillery, who reached Switzerland from the Italian camp at Bergamo

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st type (915194 Pte. G. W. Garside. A.C.C.), very fine

George Walter Garside was born in Leeds in 1920. He joined the 121st (West Riding) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery in 1939. This unit fought in Iraq in 1941 before joining the Eighth Army for the North African campaign. In his secret debriefing report, Garside describes how he was captured at Mersa Matruh on 29 June 1942:

'Our Regt. was covering the withdrawal to El Alamein. After being in action for 3 days we were ordered to withdraw but found our way cut by the Germans. We destroyed our guns and attempted to join our forces with our small arms. We lagered for the night in Wadi but at dawn found ourselves surrounded by Germans in Tanks and Armoured cars against which the rifle is useless, and had to surrender.'

Detained at Benghazi from 1 July to 5 November, Garside was then moved to Suani for transportation to Italy. He arrived at Camp 66 (Capua, Bay of Naples) on 30 November 1942, undertaking forced labour as a farm worker. He was transferred to Camp 70 (San Giorgio) on 11 February 1943 and Camp 62 (Bergamo) on 6 May 1943. Bergamo lies close to the Swiss border, and this was to be Garside's salvation. He escaped from Camp 62 on 10 September 1943. With the help of an Italian civilian named Ricardo Famiglia, who gave him clothes, food and a map, Garside crossed into Switzerland at Chiasso on 16 September. He transferred to the Army Catering Corps on 1 February 1945, and died in Leeds in 1986; sold with P.O.W. documentation.


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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£100