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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 976

Six: Private E. G. Headon, Welch Regiment, who died as a prisoner of war in 1945 having previously been captured at the fall of Crete

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4077002 Pte. E. Headon. Welch. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine, together with a badge with the word 'Athens' applied to the last two (6)

Ernest Gomer Headon was born at Ystalyfera, Glamorgan in 1919 and served initially on active service in Palestine. Ordered to Crete with the 1st Battalion in February 1941, the unit numbered approximately 21 Officers and around 830 other ranks. They soon found themselves overwhelmed by German Paratroopers in bitter fighting that followed around Chania. Headon was not to escape and when the survivors disembarked at Alexandria, they numbered just 7 Officers and 161 other ranks. By family repute however, he and a couple of comrades escaped into the White Mountains and managed to evade capture for a number of weeks. With their luck running low, they are supposed to have taken shelter from advancing enemy in a cav. Driven from the cave by hornets, Headon was to become a prisoner (https://wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/thosewhoserved/h-ww2.php?pagenum=45 refers).

He spent the remainder of his war at Stalag 8C (Kunau Kz Sprottau/Sagan) in Germany. Headon died of appendicitis whilst 'behind the wire' on 23 March 1945 and is commemorated upon the Athens Memorial; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£100