Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Representative of the medals awarded to Flight Lieutenant R. Marcinkus, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, the only Lithuanian to serve in the Royal Air Force, he was shot down during the Channel Dash, Operation Cerberus, 12 February 1942, taken Prisoner of War, and sent to Stalag Luft III. An active member of the group who organised and took part in the ‘Great Escape’, 25 March 1944, he was re-captured by the Gestapo and was executed on 29 March 1944

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, all privately engraved ‘Flt. Lt. R. Marcinkus R.A.F.V.R.’; Latvia, Republic, Medal for the 10th Anniversary of Liberation 1928, bronze, with crossed swords on riband; Czechoslovakia, Republic, Order of the White Lion, Civil Division, 4th Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, silver marks on suspension ring; Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, 5th Class breast badge, gold and enamel, nearly extremely fine and better (6) £400-500

M.I.D. London Gazette 16 June 1944.

Sold together with the recipient’s framed Mentioned in Despatches Certificate; portrait photograph; caricature drawing; copy of the recipient’s service record; various cloth and metal unit insignia; and a large quantity of research.

Note: Marcinkus’ British campaign medals were formally presented to the recipient’s next of kin by the British Ambassador to Lithuania at a ceremony in Vilnius in 2001.