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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 109

'The Battalion passed through the minefield without loss, but, a short distance beyond, the desert presented the appearance of a tremendous firework display. There were many burning vehicles, and tracer and ammunition and Verey lights were being fired in every direction by the excitable Italians … During this passage through the Italian lines in darkness, the various columns became separated and sub-divided, but during the following day, the majority of them reached Sheferzen … A party of Battalion H.Q., however, which included R.S.M. W. Wood, failed to reach the rendezvous, and it was subsequently learned that their vehicle had run into a trench, from which it proved impossible to extricate it, and they were taken prisoners … '

The fate of Regimental Sergeant-Major W. Wood, 6th Battalion, The Green Howards, on his unit's breakout from the Mersa Matruh Line on the night of the 16 June 1942; The Story of the Green Howards 1939-1945, by Captain W. A. T. Synge, refers.

A Second World War campaign group of six awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major W. Wood, The Green Howards, who was captured in North Africa in 1942

Throughout his wartime service in the 6th Battalion, he was a senior warrant officer to Stanley Hollis of D-Day V.C. fame

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., Regular Army, G.VI.R., 1st issue (4381723 W.O. Cl. II W. Wood, Green Howards), mounted as worn, with rosette on the riband of the second, good very fine (6)

Walter Wood was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire on 19 June 1902 and enlisted in the Green Howards in October 1920.

Appointed a Warrant Officer in October 1938 and having likely seen action with the B.E.F. in 1940, he was taken P.O.W. in North Africa on 16 June 1942, whilst serving as R.S.M. of the 6th Battalion, The Green Howards; WO 417/52 refers.

On that date, he and his comrades - including Stanley Hollis - broke out from the Mersa Matruh Line, having held out for eight hours against a German light armoured division. Alas, as cited above, Wood was not among those to make it to safety.

Initially incarcerated in a camp in Libya, he was moved to Campo 66 at Capur, Italy, in November 1942, and thence to Campo 70 at Forto St. George. Then, following the Italian capitulation in September 1943, he was moved to Stalag IV B at Muhlberg on the Elbe.

Walter Wood returned to his Yorkshire roots on retirement, settling in Leeds, where he died in February 1986.

Sold together with the recipient's original warrant appointing him a Warrant Officer in the Green Howards, dated 1 October 1938.

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Sold for
£220

Starting price
£160