Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3712105. Pte. R. Smethurst. King’s Own R.) edge bruising and pitting, very fine £100-£140

Richard Smethurst, a native of Bolton, Lancashire, was born on 3 September 1908 and attested for the King’s Own Royal Regiment on 11 June 1938. He served with the 2nd Battalion in pre-War Palestine and then during the Second World War in Greece. He was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Kalamata, Greece, on 29 April 1941 (although presumably whilst on attachment to another unit as the 2nd Battalion were not present there as a unit). Transported to Austria and German-occupied Poland for detention, he was attached to various Arbeitskommandos from 1941 to 1945, including time at a Discipline Camp and Military Prison.

Evacuated from Stalag XX-B at Thorne, in January 1945 onto the westward Allied Prisoner of War marching columns, Smethurst’s M.I.9. Questionnaire states: ‘Escapes attempted: On 12 May [sic] 1945, leave camp, Briesen, Poland, by cutting bar from window. Together with Privates D. Christie, A. Donnini, J. Warrell. Surrendered owing to complete collapse with serious illness of Private Donnini in Strasbourg, Poland. Escaped from line of march during machine-gunning of road by American planes. Recaptured three hours later by German guards, date 11 April 1945. Escaped same night together with Privates Watson, Christie, Donnini and Machen by hiding under straw stack in barn when we were billeted. Remained in hiding until 13 April, when American tanks entered the village of Wenscott near the town of K.D.F. Stadt.’

Smethurst’s brother, 3712101 Private Albert Smethurst, also King's Own Royal Regiment, was taken Prisoner of War at the fall of Crete on 1 June 1941, and was also a successful escaper, reaching enemy lines in May 1945.

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