Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The rare Second War Italy operations M.M. group of four awarded to Marine F. P. Tyman, No. 40 R.M. Commando, who made two escape attempts on being taken P.O.W. in January 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (CH.X.113132 F. P. Tyman. Mne. R.M.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, edge bruising to the first, otherwise nearly very fine or better (4) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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M.M. London Gazette 8 February 1944: ‘For courage, determination and resource in silencing a German mortar position single handed in an operation in Italy.’

The original recommendation states:

‘Mne. Tyman was sent forward by himself to try and locate a German L.M.G. position which was causing trouble to the main position. He worked his way forward about 3/4 of a mile in front of our forward position and located a mortar position by the cemetery above Pizzo, which was firing. He threw a grenade into the Bty. and withdrew. Later one German was found dead. This action of Mne. Tyman caused the mortar to discontinue firing. The L.M.G. had moved and could not be located. On his way back he saw an Italian section moving forward and he shot two with his sniper’s rifle. Throughout this patrol he displayed great initiative besides skill and determination, gathering valuable information.’

Frederick Philip Tyman was born in the Wayland district of Norfolk on 1 January 1923 and enlisted in the Royal Marines in January 1934.

His M.M.-winning exploits were enacted under the auspices of Operation ‘Ferdy’, when 40 R.M. Commando and two Troops from No. 3 Commando made an amphibious dawn landing at Vibo Valentia, on the southern tip of Italy, on 7 September 1943. The following day, the commandos advanced on the town of Pizzo, where Tyman knocked out a German mortar position and dispatched two Italian soldiers.

Following the action at Pizzo, he would have shared in 40 Commando’s daring patrols on the Garigliano front, up until his capture at Castello Forta on 20 January 1944. He ended the war at Marlag Milag Nord Camp, Westimke/Westertime.

However, his P.O.W. debrief reveals that he made two escape attempts in the interim, the first of them from Campo 78 at Sulmona, during an air raid on nearby Pescara, and a second attempt in Rome, from a train, with two Airborne companions. He was recaptured on both occasions, once by Italian fascists and secondly by German patrol as he approached Allied lines.

Tyman died in October 2005.