Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Gunner T. Topping, Royal Artillery, who was captured by the Japanese on 8 March 1942, and spent the rest of the War in captivity

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Mohmand 1933 (805149 Gnr. T. Topping. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (5) £260-£300

Thomas Topping was born on 6 July 1913 and attested for the Royal Artillery in 1930, serving with the 8th Anti-Aircraft Battery in India during the Mohmand campaign. He transferred to the Reserve 1936, then joined the Territorials - 6th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - which was sent to Singapore in January 1942, but soon moved on to Java, deploying to airfields south of Palembang on Sumatra. During February, the 6th A.A. Battery, acting as infantry, defended the airfields against Japanese paratroopers. Overwhelmed, the survivors escaped to Java, where they surrendered in the Batavia area in early March.

Topping was captured and taken Prisoner of War by the Japanese on 8 March 1942, spending the rest of the War in captivity. He was finally liberated at a camp in Hiroshima on 2 September 1945.

Sold with copied medal roll extract.