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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 506

The campaign pair attributed to Private D. Cruickshank, 4th Battalion, Black Watch, who was taken prisoner of war at St. Valery in June 1940

1939-1945 Star; War Medal 1939-45, sold together with three P.O.W. letters both to and from the recipient, good very fine (2)

David Cruickshank was born at Inverkeithing on 3 November 1918 and entered the war in France with the British Expeditionary Force. They withdrew with the 51st Highland Division towards Dunkirk however after a heavy series of actions they found themselves cut off at St. Valery En Caux. The Division dug in and held out for some time against repeated attacks, unfortunately attempts to evacuate the trapped soldiers were stymied by fog and enemy action. Repeated attacks eventually brought German tanks to the high ground overlooking the town and had broken the British lines forcing them to surrender.

Cruickshank was taken prisoner of war on 9 June 1940 and held at Stalag XXA in Poland along with most of the B.E.F. Several 'prisoner of war post' letters survive to us, one from A. Brown, likely his mother or sister since his wife was called Catherine. He sent her two letters in return, one giving his wife permission to draw money from a fund in his name, the other in response to a letter; sold together with copied research and a Highland Division shoulder patch as well as a Black Watch cap badge.

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Sold for
£70

Starting price
£70