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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 358

The Africa Service Medal awarded to Private G. H. Oliver, Royal Durban Light Infantry, who was taken Prisoner of War at Tobruk and succeeded in escaping to Switzerland

Africa Service Medal 1939-45 (6963 G. H. Oliver), good very fine

Gerland Harold Oliver was born at Durban on 1 June 1916, the son of Mary Oliver of Sea View, Durban. Attesting at Durban on 12 June 1940 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Durban Light Infantry and joined them in the Middle East.

The Battalion was present at Tobruk in 1942 the city was encircled and stormed by Rommel's Afrika Corps. The initial attack on 20 June broke through the British and Indian troops holding the South Eastern corner of the defences and drove to the edge of the port. In an impossible position the Allied forces surrendered although fighting continued until 22 June. After the City Fell Oliver's Regiment was ordered to attempt a breakout, he relates the circumstances of his capture, stating:

'On the 21st. June my Batt. Was holding a defensive position on the inner perimeter at Tobruk. About 17:00 hrs. word came that the garrison had capitulated. We were ordered to destroy all equipment and attempt to break through. About 19.00 hrs. I was taken prisoner by a German patrol.'

Oliver was taken first to Benghazi and the next month was transported to Italy when he passed through Campo 65 at Gravina, before his final journey to his permanent home at Camp 146/2 at Robbio, arriving on 8 August 1942. There he worked on a farm for over a year until the Italian-Allied Armistice in September 1943, when he and several others decided to escape, again Oliver relates:

'One the 9th of September the Italian Guards left the camp. With 5 others I hid in the fields near the camp. A week later the others were all recaptured and I moved to a farm about 7 kms from Robbio. I stayed with a family there until October 21st when I left for Switzerland.'

He names one member of the family on his prisoner of war report, Mario Greppi of Confienza, who is noted as sheltering him from 15 September-21 October 1943. The narrative of his escape continues, stating:

'On October 21st I left Robbio with a guide. We went by train from Nocara to a small station near Como. We crossed the frontier about 15.00hrs.'

Having made it to Switzerland he was able to emplane for South Africa on 30 October 1944. Oliver was discharged on 5 April 1946, listing his address as 11 Whitny Road, Sea View, Durban; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£60

Starting price
£60