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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 225

The General Service Medal awarded to Major R. B. Prince, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was captured by Japanese forces at the Fall of Singapore in February 1942

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Major. R. B. Prince. Loyals.), extremely fine

Ralph Bacon Prince was born on 4 February 1914 at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, the younger son of Alick Lancelot Prince and Emma Caroline Bacon of Lower Cross Keys, Sevenoaks, and husband of Leila Rosemary Tilley of Hungjao Road, Shanghai, China (The Courier, refers). Following in his father's footsteps, he was appointed to a commission in The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 30 August 1934, being promoted Lieutenant on 30 August 1937 and Acting Captain on 13 July 1940.

Posted to the Singapore Garrison under Lieutenant-Colonel Mordaunt Elrington, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, he was captured at the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. The unit had put up a most impressive campaign through Johore on the retreat.

Prince was incarcerated at the notoriously overcrowded Changi prison from 17 February 1942-15 August 1942. Transferred to Keijo Camp in Korea from 25 September 1942-11 September 1945, Prince and his fellow P.O.W.'s were likely engaged in feeding the carbide furnaces with limestone and coal in order to produce vehicle fuel. A contemporary account sets the scene:

'Task involved feeding the furnace at high speed otherwise surface contents of the furnace became white hot and conditions of work became even more akin to being in part of Dante's Inferno. Each man completed twenty minutes work followed by a forty minute break during which period two other teams did their stint. The furnaces were manned twenty four hours of each day Because of the activity involved and the nature of the work there was generally a permanent dust cloud' (Far Eastern Heroes, refers).

Post-War, the efforts of the unit were reflected in the CO earning a DSO for Singapore and an OBE for their work as Prisoners. Remaining with the Colours, Prince was promoted Acting Major on 27 June 1946 and witnessed service with Malayan Military forces from 12 September 1952. Appointed Adjutant on 19 October 1959, he finally retired on 7 December 1961. He died in September 1997 at Cheltenham; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£200