Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 149

Sold by Order of the Family

The campaign group of four awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 N. Washbourne, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who served attached to the Long Range Desert Group in North Africa and was taken a Prisoner of War with them in January 1942; Washbourne made good his escape from captivity whilst in Italy and rejoined the Allied lines

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (7588586 W.O. CL.2. N. Washbourne. R.E.), very fine (4)

Norman Washbourne was born on 11 June 1921 and originally enlisted into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps before transferring into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He was then attached to the Long Range Desert Group. He was first reported missing in the Western Desert on 26 January 1942 and was then reported as being a Prisoner of War (List No.786) and was held at Camp 65, Gravina, Italy. At some point Washbourne escaped and joined the advancing allied troops and was reported as not being a P.O.W. along with three other members of the R.E.M.E.. He continued to serve with the R.E.M.E. after the war and died on 17 December 1988.

Sold together with the following archive:

(i)
A quantity of original photographs to include one of him wearing his Second World War medal entitlement and another two of him being presented with his Army L.S. & G.C. medal.

(ii)
Prudential Assurance Company Limited Bonus Certificate 1952.

(iii)
University of Cambridge O'Level Certificate for Geography, for 1954.

(iv)
REME account for magazines and Sunday papers for April-June 1954.

(v)
BZ Registration Card BAOR stamped 11 May 1956.

(vi)
Army Pensions Office letter, dated 2 November 1960.

(vii)
R.E.M.E. cap badge, King's Crown issue.

Please see Lots 136 and 350 for the medals to his father and son.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400