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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 621

(x) Four: Company Sergeant-Major W. T. Stevenson, Royal Army Service Corps, who was taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Java on 5 March 1942

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (T/4537488 Sgt. W. T. Stevenson. RASC.), very fine (4)

William Taylor Stevenson was born on 21 August 1908 and lived at 20 East Beckett Street, Leeds, Yorkshire. Enlisting on 21 February 1929 Stevenson was a Company Sergeant-Major with the Royal Army Service Corps by the outbreak of the Second World War. He was part of the 5,500 man, ad-hoc British force which took part in the Battle of Java in 1942.

Despite the combined, Dutch, British and Australian Forces the battle proved to be a rout and between 28 February-12 March 1942 the Allies were pushed back until they finally surrendered. Stevenson surrendered on 5 March and was kept in Java as a P.O.W. for the rest of the conflict. In this he was a rare exception as the majority of the 30,000 prisoners were moved, Stevenson however was one of a little over 5,000 that remained at Bandung camp. He was repatriated on 19 May 1945; sold together with copied research comprising a Birth registry and Prisoner of War lists.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£140

Starting price
£110