The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper

A fine B.E.F. escaper’s M.M. group of four awarded to Driver R. Dundas, Royal Army Service Corps, 51st (Highland) Division

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (T/78491 Dvr., R.A.S.C.); 1939-45 Star; Defence & War Medals, good very fine (4) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper.

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M.M. London Gazette 2 May 1941. The recommendation states, ‘Showed considerable fortitude and determination. After having been badly wounded and undergone an operation, he escaped while still convalescent. A brave performance.’

The following M.I.9 debriefing account is attached to the recommendation: ‘Account of escape of 78491 Dvr. Dundas, R., R.A.S.C., 51 Div. I was wounded (both legs and left arm) on 11 June and, the following day, was taken prisoner, outside St Valery, as a stretcher case. Treatment, although wounded, was harsh and rations meagre. I spent three weeks at a hospital near Fougeres, then a week in Rouen before being taken to the hospital at Doullens. Here a piece of metal was removed from my right knee. Whilst convalescent, I was able to get some civilian clothes and, on 10 September, managed to leave the hospital unobserved.
I made South through Abbevill, Paris, Bordeaux and Castelon, crossed the line of demarcation on 14 November and kept on, through La Reole, to Marseilles. While in Marseilles (sheltered at the Sailors’ Mission) I tried hard to get away and at last made for Spain, through port Bou. I was arrested, on the Spanish side, at Figueras, spent fifteen days in prison there, fifteen at Cevera, seven at Saragossa and twenty-one at Miranda del Ebro, before getting my release and subsequent repatriation.’ Dundas, from Dundee, Scotland, left Gibraltar on 14 February, and arrived at Gourock on 23 February, 1941.