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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 503

The campaign group of three awarded to Private G. W. Arnold, East Surrey Regiment, later Sapper, Royal Engineers, who was taken a Prisoner of War at St Valery in 1940

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.V.R. (6144088 Spr. G. N. Arnold. R.E.), good very fine (3)

Geoffrey Newsted Arnold was born at Wandsworth, London on 2 August 1919, the son of Frederick and Ruth Arnold. Working as an Accountant's Assistant while living at Barnes and enlisted with the Territorial Army. With the outbreak of the Second World War looming, he was mobilised with the 2/6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment on 29 August 1939. From The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment website:

'The recently-formed 2/6th Surreys landed in France in April 1940, initially intended for duties on the lines of communication. However, they were caught up in the battle for the Channel ports, and were ordered to take up a defensive position on the River Béthune, as part of the Support Group of the 1st Armoured Division. In spite of valiant resistance, the Battalion was driven back to the coast, and was forced to surrender at St Valery on 12th June 1940.'

Between 10 June and 12 June 1940 British forces made up mostly of the 51st Highland Division found themselves encircled in the town of St.Valéry-en-Caux from which they hoped to be evacuated. Coming under increasing pressure on 11 July the defences were overrun with the 1st Black Watch being driven from St. Pierre-le-Viger early on 12 July and 2nd Seaforths cut off at Le Tot. The French forces in the area having surrendered and German troops penetrating the town General Fortune surrendered at 10:00.

Amongst the prisoners was G. W. Arnold who was transported with the majority of the St. Valery defenders to Stalag XX-A at Thorn, Poland. A newspaper article from the time relates:

'News of the prisoners of war, Jun. Engineer Officer J. Cockburn, Private G. N. Arnold and H. Winfield, though spare. Is reassuring, and all appear to be well and keeping their chins up.'

Surviving his imprisonment, Arnold was repatriated in the Spring of 1951 and soon transferred to the Royal Engineers on 26 July 1945. Marrying Eileen Bittleston in 1945 he remained in moved to Suffolk and died there at Saxmundham on 1 March 1993; sold together with copied research including a newspaper extract, census data and East Surrey Regiment Attestation documents as well as P.O.W. and casualty lists.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£100