Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private S. R. Lucas, Essex Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War on the first day of the First Battle of El Alamein, 1 July 1942

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (6016091 Pte. S. R. Lucas. Essex.) good very fine (4) £80-£100

Stanley Richard Lucas was born in 1920 and served with the 2nd/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment during the Second World War: the battalion was mobilised to Freetown, Sierre Leona and then sent to Egypt and Iraq in 1941. The following year they were sent to North Africa and were heavily defeated on the first day of the First Battle at El Alamein, 1 July 1942 – although they were beaten by the 15th Panzer Division, this one day delay actually allowed the retreating 8th Army to establish the important Alamein Line. It was on this day that Lucas was reported missing and was later confirmed to have been taken Prisoner of War on 1 July 1942, being held at Stalags 344 and VIIIB at Lamsdorf. Repatriated following the cessation of hostilities, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 119 of July 1946 and he was discharged 10 April 1946. His Second War medals were sent to 340 Mortlake Road, Ilford.