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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 632

A Second World War campaign group of six awarded to Trooper A. F. Herbert, 5th Battalion, Royal West Kents, who was posted missing in North Africa in September 1942

Afterwards confirmed as a P.O.W. - at Campo P.G. 70 in Italy - he appears on an official list of personnel who had previously been held by the Italians but who by 1944 were no longer prisoners, a listing that suggests that he made a successful bid for freedom at the time of the Italian capitulation in the previous year

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (6343929 Tpr. A. F. Herbert, R.W.K.), the campaign awards in their original O.H.M.S. and R.A.C. Record Office forwarding box addressed to 'Mr. A. F. Herbert, 65A Elm Grove, Southsea, Hants.', good very fine or better (6)

A. F. Herbert was taken P.O.W. at the battle of Alam el Halfa, official records listing him as missing with effect from 4 September 1942. On that date, the 5th Battalion, Royal West Kents faced strong enemy opposition and suffered heavy casualties.

Interned in Campo P.G. 70 at Monturano in Italy, Herbert appears to have made a successful bid for freedom at the time of the Italian capitulation in September 1943. Certainly, official records for 1944 state that he was no longer a prisoner; WO 417/78, refers. Moreover, his Royal Armoured Corps (R.A.C.) Record Office campaign medal forwarding box confirms subsequent service.

Much of Camp P.G. 70 still stands to this day; see Simon Mitchell's YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXBAZRd-0kU


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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£130