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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 258

32 D.C.M.'s to the Royal Signals.

An interesting 1945 D.C.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Sergeant J. Greenhalgh, Royal Signals

Having been taken a Prisoner of War on 31 May 1940 around Dunkirk, Greenhalgh made good his time 'behind the wire', committing acts of sabotage and also passing '...matters of military importance' on events at Poznan back to England via secret code - it appears that perhaps his decoration stems from this work

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (2319083 Cpl. J. S. Greenhalgh. R. Signals.), on original pin; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (3)

D.C.M. London Gazette 23 October 1945.

Joseph Simmonds Greenhalgh was born on 24 February 1910 and enlisted into the Royal Signals in March 1928, at that time being an AA Road Scout. By the time of the Second World War, he was serving with 48th Divisional Signals by the time of his being taken a Prisoner of War on 31 May 1940.

Making every effort to make a nuisance of himself, from June-August 1941 he managed to sabotage over 100 German respirators destined from the front line. More interestingly, his MI9 Debrief gives the following answer:

'In 1941 I endeavoured to obtain contact by code with a friend in England to inform our Government of the vast amount of materiel passing through Poznan & other matters of military importance.

Something apparently came of my efforts for in 1943 I was interviewed by the Man of Confidence of Stalag 383 who informed me that he had been requested to find out what I was attempting to convey. As it was then too late & as I was no longer in a position to obtain information I dropped further attempts to convey information.'

Greenhalgh was living at Loretta, New House Lane, Salfords, Redhill upon his return home and was training to be a teacher. He was discharged in February 1946 and his campaign medals claimed in January 1950, being involved in Outwood Cricket Club for many years afterwards.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2400