Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War M.B.E. group of six awarded to Captain J. N. White-Abbott, Royal Devon Yeomanry and Royal Artillery, who was Mentioned in Despatches and was taken Prisoner of War in North Africa in 1942. He was later recognised for his services as Intelligence Officer at prisoner of war camp Oflag 79

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, privately engraved on reverse of the crown ‘Capt. J. N. White-Abbott R.D.Y.A.’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, reverse officially dated 1950, with integral top ‘Territorial’ riband bar, very fine (6) £400-£500

M.B.E. London Gazette 18 April 1946:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.’

The original recommendation states: ‘Capt. Abbott was captured in the Western Desert on 30 June 1942 and as a result was imprisoned in Italy and Germany.
Throughout the whole of his captivity he took a keen and active interest in Intelligence work and from June 1944 until the collapse of Germany he was responsible for the collection and collation of information at Oflag 79. He carried out these duties with such efficiency and enthusiasm that he has received the commendation of the Senior British Officer and five of his colleagues.

M.I.D. London Gazette 24 June 1943:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period 1st May, 1942 to 22nd October 1942.’

John Nesbitt White-Abbott was born in 1914, the son of Edward John White Abbott, a literary agent who was killed serving in France in 1915. He was educated at Eton College and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) on 12 May 1939. He served with the 142 (Royal Devon Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery in the Second World War and was a Lieutenant in the 384th Battery on 1 September 1939 at the time of its embodiment.

White-Abbott was Mentioned in Despatches and taken prisoner-of-war in the Western Desert in June 1942. It appears that he was attached to 50th Division H.Q. in North Africa at this time. His original M.B.E. recommendation in WO 373 gives his unit as Royal Devon Yeomanry, H.Q. 50 Div. Both his London Gazette entries simply list his unit as Royal Regiment of Artillery. It should be noted that the Royal Devon Yeomanry saw no overseas action as a regiment until the Sicily landings in July 1943.

Following his capture he was held at prisoner-of-war camp Oflag 74 (Brunswick) where his services as Intelligence Officer were later recognised with the award of the M.B.E.