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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 224

A fine Second World War escaper's M.C. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. P. Mills, 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, latterly Special Operations Executive and Malaya Home Guard

Having been captured at St Valery on 11 June, Mills and a pair of comrades wasted little time in slipping their guard to begin a truly remarkable journey, it started by first attempting to cross the Channel by way of a stolen boat; this plan had to be dropped for a long march to Marseilles, before making his way across the Pyrenees, through Spain and eventually making Gibraltar and an airlift back home

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1941'; 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Lt. Col. C. F. P. Mills. Malaya H.G.), with named card box of issue; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., Territorial, the reverse officially dated ‘1955’, with copy Second Award Bar, good very fine (6)

M.C. London Gazette 7 March 1941. The original 'Account of Escape' from which the Miltary Cross was awarded, states:

'Captured 12 June 1940. Escaped 20 June 1940. Left Gibraltar by plane 26 December 1940. Arrived Plymouth 27 December 1940.

Prior to capture

On the 11th June, the Regiment had moved down to St Aubin near Dieppe, just outside St Valery, where it went into action. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I was detailed to do embarkation liaison and went to the beach, for a preliminary reconnaissance, but saw no ships. I returned towards the town at about 5/6pm and met Commander Elkins, Royal Navy, the SNO for embarkation duties.

We were shelled and machine-gunned from about 6pm until 2am. It was impossible to move at all, and, as troops were beginning to arrive on the beach. I went back to the town to stop more coming down. At day break I met the Colonel of my Regiment, Colonel Peppe 1/RHA, and accompanied him back to R.H.Q., where we were ordered to surrender.

Capture

At 11 o'clock in the morning the Germans were in the town rounding-up prisoners, and we were marched off to a farm some three miles south of St Valery, where we stayed the night. On Thursday morning, 13th June, we were taken by lorry to Forges, where I met 2/Lieut. Rae. On the 18th, arrived at Doullens.

Two days after capture, we were told to surrender map, compasses, etc, but I was able to retain my watch and pocket book. At Doullen, however, we were told to give up all private papers, watches etc, and had to sign a paper to say we understood that any infringement of this was punishable by death. This document was in English and French. By this time I was separated from other ranks, and presume that this paper was only presented to Officers for signature.

For the first two days we were given food taken from British stores, but later rations were poor, consisting of bread and weak coffee at 6am and stew at 1300 hours; after that hour we had nothing more to eat until the next morning.

Treatment by guards varied considerably. It was noticeable that the older men were more lenient than the young Nazi-inspired soldiers.

The French P/W had better treatment than the British, who were left to get what food they could. The behaviours of the French Officers was very poor. On 19th June, we arrived at St Pol, where we stayed in the Citadel.

Escape

On the 20th June, when approaching Bethune, 2/Lieuts Hopkins, Rae (both of 1/RHA) and I escaped. We noticed that the routine of march was - march 1hr 15mins, rest 15 mins. During a halt, we slipped into a ditch and hid until dark. We took our bearing from the North Star and decided to march North-West towards the coast, reaching this at Groffliers on July 2nd.

At Groffliers we met the Concierge of the chateau, who provided us with food and advised us to hide in the dunes. We stayed here from 3rd-11th July, during which time we found a small fishing boat, and tried to prepare it for sea. On July 4th, we tried to get on board a small fishing boat in at bay of Ruthie. It was, however, impossible to swim across the current, so we were obliged to get back to the shore.

On the 11th July the fishing-boat was ready for sea, but, as the tides had turned and the moon was rising, we decided to return to Ebruyeres and wait for two weeks for the next change of moon and tide. At Ebruyeres we slept in a small wood near a German aerodrome, until 17th July, when we returned to Groffliers. the weather was now very bad.

On the 18th, German troops arrived in considerable numbers and surrounding district, and made the chateau their HQ. This prevented us from launching our boat.

On the 19th July we returned to Ebruyeres and, having found out that there was a part of France unoccupied, decided to make for Free France.

On the 24th July a German reconnaissance party arrived in Ebruyeres to reconnoitre A.A. gun sites. As we were too near the German aerodrome, we decided to move, and on the 24th July we set off South.

On the 26th we reached Raye-sur-Authie, and crossed the River Authie next day. On the 28th we arrived at Le Festal, which was occupied by Germans.

On the 2nd August we reached Elbeuf. By this time we had acquired peasants' clothes and had discarded our uniforms.

On the 6th, we crossed the Seine at Port Mort at night; the dam had been blown up and the planks over the river were not guarded after dark.

From the 10th to the 15th August we went by way of Mesroberts, Le Gault, across the River Loire and so to Contres.

On the 16th August we decided to cross the River Cher singly. I had considerable help from a local peasant and swam across the river at Monthou at 3am on the 17th August. After drying out and having breakfast I went on to Cere where we had arranged an RV; Rae arriving two hours later. After waiting all day for Hopkins, we went on to Loches, and on the 20th Hopkins joined us.

We then walked to Chateauroux, and from there, by train, to Marseilles. We were not asked for papers at any point.

On arriving at Marseilles, Hopkins went first to the Seamens' Mission and saw the Rev. Caskie, while we waited in Hotel Ethene (The proprietress was an English woman, married to an Italian). We were advised to go to the British Consulate; where I saw the three British Consulate Officers, who were employed by the American Consul to look after British interests, their names being Major Dodds, Mr Dean and Mr Spinney. I first saw Mr Spinney, whose rank, I believe, is Vice Consul, and was informed by him that nothing could be done and that we should have to surrender ourselves to the French authorities. I objected and insisted on an interview with Mr Fullerton, the American Consul. Mr Fullerton proved most helpful and stipulated no conditions, so far as he was concerned. The British Consular Officers told me that they were unable to give us financial assistance, until we had complied with their instructions (to surrender ourselves), which, they said, was an order from the Home authorities.

I told 2/Lieuts. Rae and Hopkins to go to the American Consul and ask for some money; and, to the best of my knowledge, each of them received the sum of £10.

The allowances, made for Officers by the British Authorities, under the American Consul, is £5 per month and £1 per month for OR's. When I remonstrated about the inadequacy of the allowance and spoke about the possibility of purchasing one's escape, the only reply was "You are quite at liberty to surrender yourself and live in the internment Camp at Fort St Jean, where you will be kept for nothing for the duration of the War."

I stayed in Marseilles after this and was fortunate in meeting an ex-colleague on the 14th September, Mr Pemberton, employed by the Western Electrical Company of American and then a refugee from Paris. I made various attempts to leave France, but it was almost impossible without considerable financial assistance.

It is my considered opinion that if sufficient funds were available, there would be no difficulty in every man in Fort St Jean escaping from Unoccupied France into Spain and home.

On the 29th September I had an opportunity to leave for Casablanca in a French transport carrying Senegalese troops to be repatriated at Casablanca. My 'fare' was to be 200 franc, and, although I applied to Messrs. Dean & Spinney, they could not advance me the sum required. 2/Lieut Campbell R.E. applied with me, and I understand that this Officer if now detained in jail in Algiers.

In the Seamens' Mission, run by the Rev Caskie, there are approximately 50 subjects (non-military), who are being looked after by the Church of Scotland. I consider that the Rev Caskie is doing first-class work in Marseilles, and he is of great service to the OR's as they are allowed out on parade every evening from Fort St Jean for recreational purposes, and most of them go to the Mission to play billiards etc. I believe also that the Rev Caskie has funds, recently made available, for purchasing clothing up to the value of £2 per man.

During the time I was in Marseilles I made friends with two Belgian Officers, one of whom was stationed at Villeneuve on some duty connected with Belgian repatriation. This Officer informed me that if I went to Bourg-Madame and asked for Madame Salvat, the proprietress of the Hotel Salvat, I should be able to get a guide to take me into Spain.

On the 21st November while walking up the Cannbiere, I met Robert Tessier, the French interpreter of my Regiment in France. Tessier took me home with him to Aix and offered me whatever funds I needed for my escape. I took £50 from him and went to Bourg-Madame on the 25th November, where I was duly introduced to a guide, on the following day. The guide, Francesco Costa, a spaniard, agreed to conduct to me Barcelona for the sum of 5000 frs. Detailed were settled and I met him on the 27th, 4pm, at the Hotel Carlott, Osseja. We crossed the Pyrenees and arrived at Castillo in Spain at 5am on the 28th. I was accommodated in a small Spanish hut until 30th, during which time a salvo conducto was prepared, and I went by train from Guardalla to Barcelona without hindrance.

I reported to the Vice-Consul in Barcelona (mr Patron) who was most helpful and offered me money and assistance. I did not need money, but he got me rooms in a hotel where no questions were asked, and fixed me up with small details in the way of clothes and also gave me an emergency certificate. I was informed by the Vice-Consul that there were two OR's taking shelter in Andorra, whom he was supplying with money and clothes.

Naturally, the Vice-Consul was unable to put me in complete order with the authorities, as I had no Spanish transit visa, but I was put on the train the next day, 3rd December, for Madrid. The only control on the train was police, whom I managed to avoid by getting into the lavatory.

On arrival in Madrid, 4th September, I took a taxi to the Embassy and reported to the Military Attache. Here again I was very well received. I was made very comfortable and arrangements were made between the Embassy and the police for me to proceed from Madrid to Gibraltar.

While in Madrid I spoke to Brigadier Torr, regarding the attitude assumed by Messrs. Dodds, Dean and Spinney, and his reply was as follows:- "Be sure and report the attitude of these people when you arrive home." This, I gather, was also the wish of the Military and Naval Staff at the Embassy.

In Marseilles a Mr Fry runs an organisation known as the American Aid Centre, which has distributed money to British personnel. I received 5000frs from them.

Captain Fitch got 250,000frs from Mr Fry, which he, in good faith, handed over to some people owning boats, who had promised to get him and 30 OR's away. Unfortunately the people were crooks and the money was lost.

I spoke to Mr Fry after this, and he asked me to ask the Embassy in Madrid, if $10,000, which had been promised, had been paid by the British Government, through Sir Samuel Hoare, to a fund in America. I duly reported this to the Attache in Madrid. I was informed that the matter had been taken up and that the money had been paid by the Foreign Office. The Attache had sent a message to Mr Fry by an American passing through, so there was no need for me to take further action.

Mr Fry sent a representative of his organisation up to the Spanish Border with me, to see if my scheme for crossing was successful. I sent a note back, with the guide, to say that I had arrived safely in Barcelona.

Ostensibly the organisation was for repatriating civilian refugees, so that Mr Fry acted outside his province in giving help to British soliders, and his action is commendable.

I left Madrid by train, having charge of 7 OR's, who had been extricated from various Spanish prisons and brought to the Embassy at Madrid for repatriation.

I travelled with them to Gibraltar, which I reached on December 10th, from there, get a passage in an RAF plane, which touched Gibraltar on its way back from Egypt, arriving home 27th December.'

Clarence Francis Patterson Mills was born on 6 January 1903 at Reading, Berkshire. Educated at Reading Wilson School and Cambridge University, Mills graduated in electrical and communication engineering. Having worked on BBC outside broadcasts, 1934-36, he was appointed Director & Chief Engineer for the London & Provincial Cinemas Ltd in 1936. He had been commissioned 2nd Lieutenant from the 99th Bucks and Berks Yeomanry Field Brigade to the 95th Hampshire Yeomanry Field Brigade on 28 June 1933. He transferred to the 97th Kent Yeomanry Field Regiment attached to the 1st Royal Horse Artillery.

Mobilised at the beginning of the war, the 97th Kent Yeomanry Field Regiment were sent to France in September 1939, arriving at Cherbourg on the 26 September 1939.

Having been taken prisoner, Mills and two comrades made their remarkable break and was duly rewarded with a Military Cross. Major Keith Rae's account of their capture and escape is recounted in Yeoman Service.

Mills subsequently approached the Special Operations Executive in February 1943, surely looking to put his electrical engineering background to good use. He was employed by SOE from the 5 April-12 November 1943 and again from 16 March-12 June 1944.

It appears his pre-War job was no longer available, thus seeking employment he travelled to Malaya and was taken on the strength of the Home Guard.

In 1950, the British Malaya Government formed the 'Home Guard'. The unit was tasked with static local defence and manned checkpoints that curbed the flow of supplies to Communist Terrorists. Mills was duly awarded a T.D. and Second Award Bar (London Gazette 2 September 1955, refers). In 1958, as the threat of the communist terrorists receded, the Malayan Home Guard was disbanded. Mills returned home and retired to Sandgate, Kent. He died in April 1964; sold together with copied SOE file, research and service records, all bound into a well-prepared book related to his service.



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Sold for
£3,200

Starting price
£1000