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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 58

Five: Captain J. R. Oxenham, 6th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, who was wounded in both legs at Monte Cassino in March 1944 and invalided home

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., (Lt J R Oxenham, RWK), mounted as worn, good very fine (5)

John Roger Oxenham was born at Lewisham, Kent on 8 October 1919 and educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex. He enlisted in 1938 in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and went up to Sandhurst in 1942 being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 8 May 1943 into the Royal Armoured Corps.

Transferred to the 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment and was wounded in both legs at the Battle Monte Cassino on 21 March 1944. The Regimental History takes up the story:

'The 6th Battalion was the first of the 3 RWK Battalions to enter the Cassino theatre arriving at Villa Volturno on 1 February 1944. After a short break the Battalion moved through thick mud and heavy rain to the village of Cisterna.

The New Zealand Corps opened the offensive against Cassino on the morning of March 15. Due to the casualties within the 4th Indian Division the 6th Battalion were loaned to them with the objective of taking Cassino Castle and positions on Castle Hill. All day on the 20th the Battalions positions were shelled and mortared. That night the Battalion received orders to assault a Yellow House some 120 yards away from the castle walls. The space in which to deploy was so small that only 1 company could be used; D Company, Major Wakefield commanding, which included Lieutenant Oxenham.

The 1st Platoon succeeded in leaving the castle and was approaching the Yellow House when a mine was exploded killing four men and wounding the Platoon Commander, Lieutenant Oxenham.

More mines were exploded causing more casualties. Confusion reigned; the area being swept by concentrated machine gun fire. Sgt Norman (MM) and Maj Wakefield (MC) were prominent in reorganizing the men and providing leadership, but the enemy fire was too heavy. The troops were ordered back to the castle. A counter-attack came in immediately and although it was beaten off the attempt to capture the Yellow House was abandoned.'

Hospitalised at 92nd Field hospital at Caserta Bari and Naples from March-September 1944, he returned to England and was demobbed in 1945. After the war he re-joined Killick Martin and stayed with them until his retirement. Oxenham was instrumental in opening their Southampton office and was also responsible for their in-house magazine which he edited and distributed worldwide. His Efficiency Medal was awarded in 18 June 1996.

Oxenham died in 2008 and is buried at Heytesbury in Wiltshire; sold together with a bound folder of research, including the original War Office letter to the recipient's father informing him his son had been wounded.

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Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320