Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Private A. W. Baker, 1st Witwatersrand Rifles, who was wounded in Italy in June 1944

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, all officially inscribed ‘27964 A. W. Baker’, together with his identity discs, a ‘Wit Rifles’ metalled badge and a khaki unit badge, very fine and better (9) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the 1939-45 War.

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Arthur William Baker, who was born in April 1919, enlisted in the 1st Witwatersrand Rifles in May 1940. Embarked for the Middle East in October 1943, he went on to witness active service in Italy and was wounded in the right arm by shrapnel in early June 1944, being evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station. Some months later, he was diagnosed as suffering from hysteria, likely the result of his experiences under fire back in June, but he remained employed in the Mediterranean theatre until returning to South Africa in July 1945, where he was discharged that October; sold with copied service record, confirming his entitlement to the above described awards.