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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 827

A 'Battle of Tretten' survivor's P.O.W. group of three awarded to Private G. W. Matthews, 8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, who survived the destruction of the 148th Brigade at Tretten only to be taken prisoner during the retreat and went on to be interned at Stalag XXA

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (4975311 Pte G W Matthews Foresters), good very fine (3)

George William Matthews was born at Worksop on 12 November 1919, the son of William and Emily May Matthews of 17 Gatefield Road, Worksop, Nottingham. Joining the Sherwood Foresters Matthews was posted to the 8th (Territorial) Battalion before their inclusion in the Norway Campaign in 1940.

During this engagement this unit served as part of the 148th (North Midlands) Infantry Brigade, an understrength unit earmarked to land at Andalsnes. Their orders were changed as they were en-route to the country and by the time they landed the intention had become to drive south and support the withdrawing Norwegian Army. This they did engaging the Germans for the first time south of Lillehammer and fighting a steady withdrawal in the face of heavy pressure to prevent the encirclement of the Norwegian troops.

Despite heroic resistance the Norwegian unit known as 'Dhal Force' found itself in danger of encirclement near Tretten on 23 April. This forced the Brigade to make a stand, their position was unenviable with limited ammunition, artillery support and under attack by elite German Ski troops familiar with the difficult terrain. The territorials of the Sherwood Foresters held their ground as best they could in their foxholes and defensive works with only rifles and mortars- for which they had only smoke rounds. Overrun by German armour they fell back into the village proper and held out all day through bloody hand-to-hand fighting. Of the Brigade only 3 officers and 200 men remained, they staged a fighting retreat towards the coast and it was here, at Ringbu that Matthews was taken prisoner on 27 April 1940.

He was imprisoned at Stalag XXA at Thorn in Poland. The first 403 men in this camp were members of the Norway Expedition though its occupancy gradually rose as high as 10,000. This camp was liberated by the Red Army on 1 February 1945 and Matthews repatriated, returning home to Manton Crescent, Manton, Worksop; sold together with copied research including newspaper extracts, census data and information on the Norway Campaign as well as Stalag XXA.

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Sold for
£280

Starting price
£100