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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 900

The rare and unusual Gloops Club Distinguished Conduct Badge awarded to Howard Nelson for his part in capturing escaped Italian Prisoners of War in June 1942

Gloops Club Distinguished Conduct Badge (June 1st .1942. Howard Nelson.) unofficially engraved, silver and enamel, hallmarked for Birmingham, 1928, in H.P. Brown & Son case, together with a framed letter of award, somewhat scratched to reverse, overall very fine

Howard Nelson lived at 28 Goore Road, Sheffield. He was one of three schoolboys who decided to spend the last day of their holidays camping. Having packed a tent they went out onto the moors: stopped there by a local woman, the children were warned to be on the lookout for a group of escaped Italian P.O.W.'s. The Star newspaper takes up the story stating:

'Tomlinson spotted a man, wearing a khaki shirt and trousers and carrying a bundle under his arm, some distance away. The boys became suspicious and fell on their stomachs behind the rocks to keep watch. After a few minutes they saw a second man. They decided it was time to take action. Nelson, a Scout, rushed back to the cycles and fastened them together with a rope, deflated the tires, and removed the pumps.

"By this time we were certain that they were the escaped Italians and decided to get in touch with the police," Lee stated. "Because I had the fastest bike... I rode to the nearest house nearly a mile away, to phone the police while Howard and Nelson kept watch," he added. When the police arrived the boys approached the cave in which the prisoners were sitting around a fire, with the officers. The Italians offered no resistance, but as they were being put into the police van all gave a Fascist salute.'

Nelson and his friends were awarded badges by the 'Gloops Club' at the suggestion of The Star; sold together with two more Gloops Club badges, a 'Glooper's Own' stationery set and a framed letter from 'Auntie Edith', an organiser of the Gloops Club addressed to Howard Nelson and informing him of the award along with copied newspaper article and typed research.

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Sold for
£90

Starting price
£30