Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 87
A fine Second World War escaper’s M.M. group of four awarded to Private W. A. C. Reynolds, Seaforth Highlanders, late Cameronians who was taken prisoner at St. Valery-en-Caux in June 1940: after two failed attempts, he made a successful bid for freedom, crossing the Zone Interdite with the help of a French padre - subsequently making his way to Marseilles, he was aided in securing his repatriation via Gibraltar in July 1941 by the Rev Donald Caskie a.k.a. ‘The Tartan Pimpernel’ Military Medal,
G.VI.R. (3243731 Pte. W. A. C. Reynolds. Seaforth.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these unnamed, mounted for wear, slight edge nicks to first, otherwise good very fine (4)
£1,600-£2,000 M.M. London Gazette 12 February 1942
The original recommendation states: ‘This soldier was taken prisoner at St. Valery en Caux on 13 June 1940; he escaped the following day but was recaptured the same evening and marched in a column of prisoners through Fornerie, Doullens, and Bethune to La Bassee. He escaped the following day but was recaptured that same evening and made for La Gorque where he remained for a week before going to Loos and then to Lille; he stole a bicycle from Lille and returned to Loos, where he was again recaptured. He was marched in column as far as Werden, near Krefeld, where he stayed until his final escape on 2 December, while on a working party. He made his way to Aachen, from where he was assisted to Belgium, he continued his journey through Liege, Brussels, Lille, and Buthune to Hamen-Artois, which he reached on 26 January 1941. He went on from there through Arras and Hericourt and Corbie where, assisted by a French padre he crossed the Somme out of the Zone Interdite. He went by train through Beauvais to Parish, Nevers and Moulins where he crossed into unoccupied France. He was arrested at Marseilles on March 2 and eventually passed for repatriation by a medical commission in July.’
William Arthur Charles Reynolds was born in Lambeth, London in 1913. He attested for the Cameronians on 25 August 1931 and served with the 1st Battalion in India from February 1933 to February 1939 before embarking for France in August 1939. He transferred to the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in November 1939 and was attached to the 51st (Highland) Division H.Q. in France on 27 February 1940. After the evacuation at Dunkirk, The 51st (Highland) Division was the last complete division remaining in France and continued to fight a rearguard action until forced to withdraw to St. Valery-en-Caux, where they were to be collected. But no boats came to meet them, nor was there food or ammunition. Surrounded by the 7th Panzer Division under Rommel, the Division was forced to surrender on the morning of 12 June. Some 10,000 men, of the division, including Reynolds, were captured along with thousands of French troops.
Reynold’s arrived back in England on 8 October 1941 following the above cited activities in France. He was debriefed by M.I. 9, awarded the M.M. and discharged on 19 September 1942.
Reynolds’ service record states that while in Marseilles he was under the care of ‘Rev. D. Caskie’ before being detained and ultimately repatriated. An intrepid minister of the Church of Scotland, the Reverend Donald Caskie fled Paris in 1940 and set up a refuge, based at the Seaman’s Mission in Marseilles, for stranded and escaping Britons, aiding their repatriation, mostly via Spain. With the help of Lt- Cmdr Pat O'Leary RN (later awarded the George Cross), British Intelligence, and a network of guides and local resistance, Caskie helped as many as 500 Allied service personnel to flee France. His extraordinary wartime activities came to light more clearly after the publication of his autobiography ‘The Tartan Pimpernel’ in 1957.
Sold with copied research including Reynolds’ M.I. 9 debrief statement in full.
88
A rare Second War ‘East Africa operations’ M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant Jali Nakhoro, 1st King’s African Rifles
Military Medal,
G.VI.R. (7413 Sjt. Jali Nakhoro, K.A. Rif.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the MM poor, with severe edge bruising, and extremely worn by polishing, the other medals very fine (6) £360-£400
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2003. M.M. London Gazette 16 April 1942.
The original recommendation states: ‘For continuously gallant service in action in command of a platoon. This N.C.O. gained an E.A. Force Badge at Moyale and in addition was conspicuous for his courage in action at El Wak and Afmadu. Since the outbreak of war he has maintained a platoon as a very efficient unit. In the attack on Abalti Plateau Sergeant Jali through his fighting spirit and control over his platoon was instrumental in turning the flank of no less than three enemy positions on his own Company front. After which on his own initiative he took his platoon to the assistance of ‘B’ Company who were heavily engaged on his left; thereby materially assisting in that Company’s advance - Abalti 5/6 June 1941.’
Jali bin Nakhoro, of the Anguru Tribe in the District of Zomba in Nyasaland, enlisted into the King’s African Rifles in 1927. Frequently to be found on the defaulter’s list, he attained the ranks of Sergeant in 1937 and Company Sergeant-Major in 1942. Awarded the M.M. for his gallantry in East Africa in 1941, he was subsequently engaged in the operations in Madagascar and died there of natural causes on 25 July 1943. His Military Medal was forwarded to his next-of-kin in 1948.
Sold with a rectangular brass plaque, 62mm x 104mm, with a silver coat-of arms in the centre.
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