Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group:

Pair: Private E. H. Mantle, Royal Fusiliers

British War and Victory Medals (GS-65087 Pte., R. Fus.) mounted as worn, very fine

Four: Private W. F. H. Mantle, 4th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), who was killed/died, Dodecanese campaign, 23 October 1943

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed, extremely fine (lot) £150-200

William Frederick Henry Mantle was the son of Ernest Henry and Annie Mantle, of Ramsgate, Kent. As a Private in the 4th Battalion The Buffs, he was killed/died on 23 October 1943, aged 23 years. His name is commemorated on the Athens Memorial.

In 1943, the 4th Battalion The Buffs formed part of the 234th Brigade. With the surrender of Italy, many of the Greek islands, then occupied by Italian forces seemed attainable. The brigade took part in the disastrous attempt to capture the Dodecanese Islands in September-November 1943. The brigade and allied forces - mainly Italian, attempted to hold the islands from the Germans but without success. After many days of the resistance and hard fighting, the allied forces surrendered on 16 November 1943.

The three stars with condolence slip named to ‘Pte. W. F. Mantle’, in forwarding box, addressed to Mr E. H. Mantle, Albion House, East Cliff, Ramsgate, Kent’; the War Medal 1939-45 with a separate, more modern condolence slip named to ‘Pte. W. F. H. Mantle’, in damaged card forwarding box addressed to ‘Mrs E. H. Mantle’ of the same address; The Athens Memorial Register 1939-45; a letter from Private W. Mantle to his sister, dated 11 April 1941; another, with envelope, dated 15 August 1941.

With three portrait and two group photographs of W. F. H. Mantle; a photograph album containing photographs, mostly WW2 military, but not identified; a Christmas Card 1945 to Miss J[oyce]. Mantle, with envelope, to the above address; a letter to Miss Jane A. P. Mantle from L.A.C. P. L. Lonsdale, R.A.F., at the same address, dated 12 February 1945; Permit Book to Miss Annie Rye, dated 26 October 1916 and misc. loose family photographs. Also with ‘shield’ display bearing a photograph (of W. F. H. Mantle?), nine buttons, two ‘Buffs’ shoulder titles and three Buffs badges. Some copied research.