Family Group:

Three: Private J. Axton, Manchester Regiment
1914-15 Star (7460 Cpl. J. Axton. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (7460 A. Cpl. J. Axton. Manch. R.) very fine

Five: Private J. Axton, Manchester Regiment, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and died of cholera on 29 May 1943 whilst working on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3525605 Pte. J. Axton. Manch.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (8) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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John Axton (Senior) was born at Ashton Under Lyne on 10 October 1884 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment on 5 February 1902 at the age of 17. He was posted to 4th Battalion the Manchester Regiment on 13 February 1902, and was then posted to serve in 3rd Battalion in South Africa after the end of hostilities in the South African War. In 1906, on the reduction of 3rd Battalion he was posted to India to join the 1st Battalion. He returned to the U.K. and was transferred to the Army Reserve in 1909. He was recalled to the ‘Colours’ in August 1914 to join the newly formed 11th (Service) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment at Ashton Under Lyne, and embarked at Liverpool with his battalion for service in Gallipoli. In the summer of 1916 his battalion was deployed to the Western Front and was later involved in heavy fighting around Moquet Farm, Stuff Redoubt and Hessian Trench. He was invalided home in April 1917, and on returning to France was posted to 2/10 Battalion the Manchester Regiment which was under orders to transfer to the Ypres Salient. The battalion was heavily engaged in the third battle of of Ypres (Passchendaele) and at Frezenberg Ridge. He was again repatriated on account of wounds or sickness on 31 January 1918 and was discharged on 5 September 1918 as ‘no longer fit for War Service’ and was entitled to Silver War Badge No. B 10832.

John Axton (Junior), the son of the above, was born on 3 September 1914, and on 3 April 1933 he attested for service in 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, transferring to 1st Battalion in early 1937, to serve in the Middle East, the battalion moving to Palestine in January 1938. In September 1938 his battalion embarked for Singapore. His engagement came to an end in March 1940, but he re-enlisted on 26 December 1941 and was promoted Sergeant. He was captured and taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, and was initially held at Changi; he was later one of those prisoners forced to become part of ‘Force F’, comprising prisoners forced to work in the Japanese labour camps on the notorious Burma-Siam Railway, in close proximity to the Thailand-Burma border. Held at Son Krai (No.2) Camp, just south of Three Pagodas Pass, he died of cholera on 29 May 1943. He was initially buried at the camp but after the war his remains were re-interred in Thanbyuzayat Cemetery, Burma.

Sold with copied research.