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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 411

Three: Private J. H. Cope, Royal Leicestershire Regiment, captured at Tretten, Norway on 23 April 1940

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial (4859220 Pte. J. H. Cope. R. Leicesters.), mounted for display, minor edge bruising, very fine (3)

John Henry Cope served with the 1/5th Battalion, Royal Leicestershire Regiment during the Norwegian Campaign sharing in the action at Tretten on 23 April 1940. Here an improvised force from 248th Brigade and the Norwegian Army held the German advance for the better part of a day, withdrawing around 2130hrs. Several units were cut off as German tanks penetrated the village and it is likely that Cope was among these troops whose firing was heard for some time as the Allied front withdrew. Cope was held first at Leic, Germany and an article in the Leicester Evening Mail on 7 June 1940 states:

'written to his parents stating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany and is quite well'

He was later transported to Stalag XX-A at Thron Podgorz in Poland. It was from here that he was liberated at the end of the war; sold together with copied newspaper articles, copied casualty lists and extracts relating to the Leicestershire Regiment.

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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£110