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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 530

'Taken Prisoner on 8th April 1941 in North Africa Bombardier Frederick Tulett, RA only son of Mrs "Toby" Bridger of 90A Ockford Road, Godalming, is now in hospital in Epsom suffering from malnutrition, the result of his prison experiences in Italy and Germany. He was liberated by Americans. Bombardier Tulett, who's wife and daughter live in Wells on Sea, Norfolk has been in the Army for nineteen years. He told his aunt Mrs Barnes of Shackstead Road, Godalming, who visited him in hospital, that, when in captivity in Italy a fellow prisoner gave away a gold watch in return for a drink of water'

(The Surrey Advertiser and County Times 12 May 1945, reports the tribulations of Bombardier F. G. Tulett)

Four: Bombardier F. G. Tulett, Royal Artillery, who escaped the Fall of France at Dunkirk only to go 'in the bag' in North Africa

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., Regular Army (6082333 Gnr. F. C. Tulett. R.A.), light contact wear, very fine (4)

Frederick George Tulett was born at Godalming, Surrey in 1907 and enlisted with the Royal West Surrey Regiment before transferring to the Royal Artillery prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. Serving in France in 1940 Tulett was evacuated at Dunkirk and posted to the Desert where he was part of Richard O'Connor's hugely successful Operation Compass.

Unfortunately the loss of O'Connor as a prisoner of war and the drain of the Western Desert Force to supply the campaign in Greece saw a resurgent axis assault hammer into the Allied lines. Led by Rommel a German-Italian army managed to drive the British back beyond Tobruk taking a number of them prisoner including Tulett on 8 April. The Surrey Advertiser and County Times refers:

'Godalming man missing - Lance Bombardier F G Tilett, Anti Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery, husband of Mrs Tilett of East End, Wells on Sea, Norfolk and only son of Mrs Bridger of Godalming has been posted as missing in April. A native of Godalming L Bdr Tulett is 34 years of age and has served in the Army for fifteen years. He was in the evacuation from Dunkirk and was later sent to the Middle East. Married about two and a half years ago, he has a baby girl'.

Taken first to Sulmano camp in Italy he was later transferred to Stalag IVF in Saxony, it was there that he was liberated in March 1945 by U.S. forces. Returning to Britain Tulett appears to have suffered from ill-health following his ordeal, he died in Surrey in 1955 aged just 48; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£110