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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 586

Six: Sergeant H. Taylor, Royal Artillery, who was captured at Tobruk and successfully escaped from Italy, returning to service

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Territorial (1432848. Sjt. H. Taylor. R.A.); Italy, Republic, unofficial, Associazione Nazionale Reduci Dalla Prigionia Al Merito Medal, bronze, good very fine (6)

Harry Talor was born on 5 September 1914, a native of Woodthorpe, Nottingham and worked as a Warehouse Manager prior to enlistment. He joined the 68th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery on 24 May 1938 being posted to the Middle East and posted to the Garrison of Tobruk.

Taylor was there when the German and Italian armies encircled the town after the Battle of Gazala in June 1942. After several probing attacks from 15-20 June the Germans were in position to attack. They broke through the British lines on 20 June and by 21 June the British forces were forced to surrender, some units continued to fight until 22 June including Taylor's as he was captured on that day.

Taken to Italy via Brindisi Taylor was initially held at Camp 87 until November when he was moved to Camp 78 at Sulmona. He was still there in September 1943 when the Armistice was signed between Italy and the Allies. It was then that Taylor and a group of others escaped, getting through the wire and escaping to the hills, his attempt was described in his escape questionnaire notes that it is the same as Sergeant Prout's (Staff Sergeant Alan George Prout, R.E.M.E.) which states:

'Tpr. Hill and Gnr. Delury were last seen at Piennadimonte one 3 Nove 1942 and are believed to have been recaptured as they tried to get through German positions in daytime.

From Sulmona they [Prout and his escapers including Taylor] went to Caramanico, Piennadimonte, Civitello Del Raimondo, Torricella, Castiglione, Sargito, and Torella where they met 48 Canadian Highland Regt. on 10 November 1943.

They were helped en route by farmers and the whole journey was made on foot. When crossing the R. Sangro 2 Italian soldiers assisted them.'

Prout's own questionnaire notes Domico Di Monti, of Caramanica as a man who gave food and shelter to the escapers as well as looking after a badly wounded soldier. Taylor's medals were sent to 'Flat 3, 200 Mansfield Rd, Nottingham'; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£140