Orders, Decorations and Medals

A 1940 M.M. group of four awarded to Gunner W. Underwood, 74 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, subsequently a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (908457 Gnr., R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal, very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 20 December 1940. The following recommendation was extracted from official records: ‘On 26 May 1940, upon hearing a call for help from a gun tractor, which had apparently been abandoned on the road side near Point-Logus and was in flames, Gunner Underwood proceeded for about 100 yards to the Quad and extricated a wounded man, Gunner Thompson, whom he carried to safety. The tractor was burning and the road and the immediate vicinity of the tractor were heavily shelled throughout. Gunner Underwood undoubtedly behaved in a markedly courageous manner and his prompt action probably saved the life of Gunner Thompson.’

Gunner Underwood was captured in North Africa and interned firstly in Campo 65 at Gravina, South Italy, and subsequently at Stalag IVG at Oschaltz in Germany.