Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War defence of Tobruk M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. Shafto, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4269670 Sgt. W. Shafto, R. North’d. Fus.), an official replacement stamped ‘R.’; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (4269670 Sgt. W. Shafto, R. North’d. Fus.), an official replacement stamped ‘R.’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (5) £400-500

M.M. London Gazette 9 September 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘This N.C.O. has consistently shown initiative and courage under fire throughout the defence of Tobruk and in the operations of the break out. During the affair at “Butch” he handled his Machine Gun Section with great boldness when his Platoon Commander was wounded and pinned to the ground, and got his guns into action under heavy enemy fire. He has throughout this long period set a fine example which has been reflected in those under him.’

William Shafto (or Shaftoe), a native of Newcastle, was serving in the 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, at the time of the above deeds. Subsequently taken P.O.W., he was originally incarcerated in Campo 85 at Tuturano in Southern Italy, but his name does not appear on the published roll of prisoners liberated in German held territories at the War’s end, thereby suggesting he may have made a successful bid for freedom at the time of the Italian capitulation; his original Honours and Awards are believed to have been destroyed in a fire.