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Lot

№ 252

.

7 December 2022

Hammer Price:
£260

Four: Warrant Officer Class II R. R. Smith, Royal Pioneer Corps, late Manchester Regiment and Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps attached Cyprus Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the fall of Crete on 1 June 1941

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial, with Second Award Bar (3523717. W.O. Cl.2. R. R. Smith. R.P.C.) edge bruising and contact marks to last, otherwise good very fine (4) £100-£140

Reginald Robert Smith was born on 3 October 1910 and attested for the 10th (Oldham) Battalion, Manchester Regiment (Territorial Army) on 19 September 1929; the 10th Manchester Regiment was subsequently converted to an armoured unit and restyled the 41st (Oldham) Royal Tank Regiment.

Following the outbreak of War Smith was transferred to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, and being posted to Cyprus was attached to the Cyprus Regiment. he served with the unit in North Africa before they were utilised in Crete in 1941, and he was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the fall of Crete on 1 June 1941. He was held at Stalag VIII-B at Lamsdorf from 22 August 1941 to 3 March 1945, and then at Stalag 383 in Bavaria from 17 March to 22 April 1945.

Smith was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 1010 of 1949, with the clasp being authorised per Army Order 45 of 1950. He died in Oldham in 1978.

Sold with a sand cast Cyprus Regiment cap badge; and copied research.