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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 618

Five: Private J. Hunt of the 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal Kent Regiment, who most likely took part in the Defence of Leros, probably one of the few who escaped the epic action

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6344170. Pte.J. Hunt. R. W. Kent. R.), official corrections to number and rank; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (5)

The 2nd Battalion was involved in the BEF's evacuation from Dunkirk and was later part of the garrison of Malta during its protracted siege. It then formed part of the 234th Infantry Brigade in the abortive assault on the Italian-held Dodecanese islands in 1943, being captured by the Germans on the island of Leros. In September 1943, the Battalion had been ordered to the defence of the Greek Islands, and in the second week of November, on Leros, was more or less wiped out, reeling under a ferocious German invasion. The attack began when the enemy made a seaborne attack followed by some 700 paratroopers that swarmed the island. In bitter and confused fighting, besides relentless aerial attacks and with companies acting independently, all but 43 men were killed or taken prisoner within 24 hours. Not all the unwounded were put 'in the bag' with many managing to escape to form the nucleus of the reformed Battalion.

It is interesting to note that in the Regimental History (p291) by Lieutenant-Colonel H. D. Chaplin, there is a reference to the adventures of 4 Privates in the Signal Platoon who escaped from Leros. A Private Hunt is mentioned but sadly no first names or Service Number are mentioned.

The Battalion was reconstituted in 1944 by amalgamating the few remaining survivors (less than 100 Officers and men) with the 7th Battalion and redesignating it as the new 2nd Battalion. The 7th Battalion had been a training and draft finding formation assigned to the 211th Infantry Brigade, which was part of the 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division.

In July 1944, the new 2nd Battalion was assigned to the 184th Infantry Brigade attached to the 61st Division, with which it remained for the rest of the war on home defence duties.


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