Orders, Decorations and Medals

An interesting P.O.W. group of six to Captain A.E. Bedborough, Royal Artillery, late Royal Air Force, who was interned at Oflag IX A/H, Spangenberg Castle

1914-15 STAR (Gnr. R.F.A.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (2 Lieut., R.A.F.); 1939-45 STAR; WAR MEDAL, these last two in box of issue; TERRITORIAL DECORATION, G.VI.R., dated '1950', in its Royal Mint case with forwarding letter, together with 7 inter-war sports medals, mostly named, extremely fine (13)

The lot is sold with the following original documents: various photographs and post cards relating to Captain Bedborough's captivity; a fascinating unpublished manuscript written by the recipient in August 1944, about his experiences as a P.0W., approximately 105 typed A4 pages interspersed with photographs; a small watercolour of Oflag IX A/H signed C.St.A.W., 1943; a 'Bon Voyage' menu dated October 14th, 1943, illustrated in watercolour and signed by several internees; a limited edition book ‘The Prisoners' Progress’, being an illustrated diary of the march into captivity of the last of the British army in France, June 1940, by Lieut. L.C. Hunt.

Captain Albert Edward Bedhorough enlisted into the Royal Artillery and served in France and with the Royal Flying Corps as a sub-lieutenant, and subsequently with the Royal Air Force. At the outbreak of the second World War he obtained a Captain's commission in the Royal Artillery and went to France with the B.E.F. shortly after his appointment. He was captured at St. Valery-en-Caux, whilst serving with the 51st Highland Division, on June 12th, 1940. He was finally repatriated on 21st October, 1943, after being imprisoned in Oflag VIIC at Laufen and Oflag IX A/H at Spangenberg Castle