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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 514

'He was one of the 1003 Docks Operating Company from Liverpool - a really rough crowd, mostly Irish, who gave the Germans considerable trouble and were real thorns in their side. They were as near to being mutinous as any prisoners dared. As a group, the Germans soon identified them and indeed referred to the as that "ein tausend und drei kompanie". No other regiment or company was ever individually identified in this way by our captors.'

The Junak King: Life as a British POW, 1941-45, refers

A 'Fall of Crete 1941' group of five awarded to Sergeant G. Roberts, 1003 Docks Operating Company, Royal Engineers, whose unit became famous for their stubborn resistance to the guards of the Prisoner of War camps

1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (3168135 Sjt. G. Roberts. R.E.), minor contact wear, overall very fine (5)

George Roberts was born on 20 April 1907 and lived at 75 Balkan Street, Liverpool and enlisted with the Royal Engineers in June 1939. During the British preparations for the Battle of Crete he, along with many other Liverpudlians, were assembled into the 1003rd Dock Operating Company, apparently largely assembled from the Liverpool Irish. The Battle for Crete describes this unit's role in the confused and ad hoc preparations, stating:

'The next task was the unloading of guns, transport which included the huge gun-pulling Matadors, and of stores and equipment.'

Unfortunately, it was now that the Company's reputation for stubborn and uncooperating behaviour first appeared, The Battle for Crete continuous:

'They had been collectively labelled the 1003rd Dock Operating Company, Ergo, they were stevedores. Most of them put to this activity went rapidly sick on complaints which were not appreciated by army doctors, while their officers fumed and talked of charging them collectively with numberless offenses under the Army Act.'

When the Battle of Crete was joined and the British were forced back the men of 1003rd Dock Operating Company were largely cut off and taken prisoner with the rest of the Army. Roberts was one of these, listed as taken prisoner of war on 2 June 1941, he was taken to Stalag IIID outside Berlin.

It was likely here that the Company's independent spirt reasserted itself and they began to act out again, with one member of the unit named 'Docherty' even escaping. The Junak King relates:

'He simply said, "I am leaving now." He was dressed in a British army battledress and wore a beret on which he had sewn a large Union Jack; he also carried a small British army haversack. His method of escape was the easiest possible. He made no preparation at all. Seeing a bicycle belonging to one of the guards leaning against a nearby fence, he just walked up to it, got on and cycled away.'

Roberts was moved from this camp in October 1942 and sent to Oflag VIIB at Eichstätt, Bavaria, where he stayed until July 1943. Finally he was sent to Stalag 383, also in Bavaria where he ended the war, being liberated in April 1945; sold together with copied research including extracts from The Junak King: Life as a British POW, 1941-45 and The Battle for Crete as well as casualty lists and a P.O.W. questionnaire filled in by the recipient.

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£100