Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second World War escaper’s M.M. group of four awarded to Trooper R. R. Biggins, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Foresters), R.A.C., who led a party of ten men in a successful bid for freedom from a working camp in Austria to Italy, via Yugoslavia

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (557508 Tpr. R. R. Biggins, Notts. Yeo.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (4) £1800-2200

M.M. London Gazette 20 September 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘As a result of his capture on an island off mainland Greece on 23 May 1941, Biggins was in Working Camp 10911 G. W. Kuhnsdorf, Austria, in the autumn of 1944. On 23 October 1944, having previously arranged for outside help, Biggins left through a gap in the wire. he took with him nine other P./Ws; everything went as planned and the escapers were guided by partisans across the frontier to Metlika, Yugoslavia. Their evacuation to Bari, Italy by sea was accomplished at the end of 1944. It has been reported by one of the party that it was due to the initiative of Biggins that the ten men made good their escape; in addition, this private soldier also made arrangements for another party to follow a fortnight later.’