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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 496

A Second World War group of four to Private R. W. Askew, Foresters, who was taken P.O.W. at Tobruk on 21 June 1942, employed to make concrete slabs for German Air Raid shelters and actively sabotaged their construction, he later escaped on the march from Nuremberg to join the American lines in April 1945

1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Militia (4975917 Pte. R. W. Askew. Foresters.), light edge bruising to the last otherwise very fine (4)

Walter Askew was born on 18 May 1921 and enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters on 1 September 1939. He was captured at Tobuk on 21 June 1942 and was first sent to Camp No.53 at Macerata between July 1942 - July 1943 and was then sent to Stalag 344 as Lamsdorf between August 1943 - January 1945. During this period he was sent to work at Heydebreck between September 1943 - January 1945 where he was used to work on the construction of concrete slabs for Air Raid shelters. His P.O.W. Questionnaire notes in the Sabotage section:

'Made concrete slabs, Germans said were for Air Raid Shelters, with no reinforcing wire and hardly any cement.'

Askew's Questionnaire notes the following escape:

'Escaped alone from column marching south from Nuremburg. Hid in barns etc for four days until meeting USA patrols by Augsburg 30th April 1945, escaped 26.4.45.'

Militia suspension scarce to the Foresters.

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Estimate

Starting price
£130