Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Private A. J. Oxby, Gordon Highlanders, who was wounded in North-West Europe post D-Day
1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all privately engraved ‘Pte. A. J. Oxby. 3250906. Gdn. Hlds.’, mounted as worn, very fine

Four: Private F. Ashworth, Highland Light Infantry, who was killed in action in North-West Europe on 23 September 1944
1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to Mr. H. Ashworth, 78 Greenwood St., Oldham, Lancs’, extremely fine (10) £120-£160

Alfred J. Oxby was born on 28 June 1917 and attested for the Gordon Highlanders, serving with the 51st Division in North Africa, Italy, and in North-West Europe. He is recorded as having been wounded in North West Europe, although the date is not recorded. A note with the lots states that he ‘fought at the Second Battle of El Alamenin, in Italy, and took part in the Normandy Landings, and was taken Prisoner of War in June 1944, in the immediate aftermath of D-Day’, although this information remains unconfirmed, and Oxby’s name does not appear in the latest published transcript of Prisoners of War of the British Army held in Germany.

Frank Ashworth was born on 15 May 1920, the son of Mr. Harry Ashworth, of Oldham, Lancashire, and served with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry during the Second World War. He was killed in action on 23 September 1944 during the Battalion’s advance into Holland, and is buried in Valkenswaard War Cemetery, Holland. Valkenswaard was the first village to be liberated on the main line of the British advanced into Holland in September 1944.