Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 316

The G.S.M. awarded to Private J. H. Watts, 1st Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War at Tobruk only to escape from captivity in Italy in 1943

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4974044 Pte. J. H. Watts. Foresters.), very fine

James Henry Watts was born on 29 July 1914 enlisted on 18 July 1934 and was stationed with 'A' Company in Jamacia on 24 September 1935. The next year- whilst still on Jamacia- he appears on the Regimental Annual 1936 with the Headquarters Wing Signals. Stationed with the 1st Battalion he served in Palestine and was still with them on the outbreak of the Second World War.

They were stationed in Tobruk when the German and Italian armies arrived following the Battle of Gazala, after a slow advance, tightening the perimeter they attacked on the morning of 20 June. After two days of bloody fighting the Garrison surrendered although Watts appears on the casualty list for 20 June suggesting that he was either captured early in the Battle or cut off and attempted to evade the enemy.

He was transported to Italy after capture and held at Campo 65 in Gravina, remaining there until the Armistice in 1943 when he took the opportunity to escape. A newspaper article in the Daily Mail make note of what happened next stating:

'Escaped from Prison Camp

Hull Man Reaches British Lines

After being a prisoner of war since the fall of Tobruk, 20 months ago, Pte. James Watts has written to his wife at 5, Northolmy-st, Howden, near Goole, saying that he contacted a Hampshire Regiment holding the northern slopes of Mount Roccamonfia, Italy.
Just before the invasion of Sicily, Pte. Watts wrote to his mother, Mrs L. Conkerton, who resides at 14, Myrtle- grove, Williamson-St., Hull, telling her that he had been transferred from a barbed wire camp to work on a farm, and that he quite enjoyed the change. It appears that he was then transferred to another camp, from which he escaped a few days later. Since that time, three months ago, by various ruses he has worked his way back to the British lines.

"I was not surprised to hear that he had escaped." Said his mother. "He is the kind that will not be beaten."
Pte. Watts, who is 33, has four children, one of whom he has not seen, and this was his fourth Christmas away from home. A fine swimmer he went though Dunkirk and has four brothers in the Middle East. He attended Blenkin-st. School.
At the outset of the war he was a member of the Territorials and carried put props on the docks'

Having returned to Britain Watts was transferred to the Army Catering Corps on 9 November 1944 and finished the war with that unit; sold together with copied research.

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

Sold for
£200

Starting price
£100