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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 185

Seven: Colour Sergeant R. A. Alton, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who was taken Prisoner-Of-War in Italy on 4 February 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (4607978 C. Sjt. R. A. Alton. D.W.R.); Korea 1950-53 (4607978 C/Sjt. R. A. Alton. D.W.R.); U.N. Korea 1950-53, mounted as worn, contact marks, very fine (7)

Reginald Albert Alton was born at Porchester, Hampshire on 26 January 1911. His father served in the Royal Artillery for 24 years and on retirement worked in the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Fareham, Hampshire. Alton joined the Army aged 14 as a Boy Soldier on 30 March 1925 and was a member of the Drums Platoon in 1935. A Lance-Sergeant by the outbreak of the Second World War, Alton was present for the North Africa campaign and the advance into Italy.

It was in the latter theatre that he was taken prisoner on 4 February 1944 and became Prisoner of War Number 278516. Alton was incarcerated in Stalag 4b Mahlberg Elbe for the whole war until his release on 12 July 1945. He then re-joined 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment and served with them in Palestine from January 1949, qualifying for the General Service Medal, clasp Palestine 1945-48, as a Company Quartermaster-Sergeant.

He was still serving as C.Q.M.S. in 'D' Company, 1st Battalion when the battalion went to Korea, where they were heavily engaged in the Battle of The Hook; Alton was later selected to be part of the Colour Party for the Queen's Birthday Parade. After Korea he became a member of 'The Drums', and subsequently became Drum Major of 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. He was admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea as a Chelsea Pensioner on 27 October 1996, but died seven months later on 26 May 1997 and is buried in the Chelsea Pensioners plot, Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey; sold together with copied casualty rolls, transcribed service records and photographs.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£160