Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second War 1940 ‘Fall of France’ Evader’s M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant G. Roskell, Royal Air Force, who was wounded whilst taxiing aircraft on his aerodrome during a German air attack, 14 June 1940. His arm was amputated the same day, and two days later with the Germans approaching he left hospital, partly walking, partly begging for lifts and arriving in Nantes on 17 June 1940. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to get out of France, and in a continual race against the advancing Germans, Roskell managed to get in to Unoccupied France and out through Marseilles and the American Consulate in December 1940

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (613552 Sjt. G. Roskell. R.A.F.) minor official correction to surname; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for display, suspension slack on first, nearly very fine (3) £3,000-£4,000

M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘On June 14th, 1940 this Sergeant Pilot was wounded as a result of a German air attack on his aerodrome. His arm was amputated on the same day. Two days later, as the Germans were approaching, he left hospital and, partly walking, partly begging for lifts, succeeded in reaching Nantes on June 17th. A week later the Germans occupied Nantes where Sgt. Roskell was in hospital. After two months he escaped with French help, crossed the line of demarcation on foot, and eventually reached Perpignan. He was unable to raise sufficient money for guides so was obliged to return to Marseilles where he was repatriated by the Medical Board. This sergeant showed great courage and persistence in attempting to escape whilst badly wounded.’
Approximately 119 Military Medals awarded to the RAF during the Second World War.

George Roskell was born in Leyland, Preston in June 1919. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a Fitter Airframes Engineer in June 1938, and subsequent postings included to No. 7 F.T.S., Peterborough in July 1939, where he re-mustered to become a Fitter II (Engines). Roskell was posted to No. 2 Air Depot at Henlow in September 1939, and moved with them to France. The following month he was posted to No. 1 Salvage Section as part of 72 Wing, and then joined No. 6 Repair & Salvage Unit in February 1940. He advanced to Sergeant (but was not aircrew as erroneously listed in recommendation), and was serving with 226 Squadron, and had been taxiing aircraft when his airfield was attacked by German aircraft, 14 June 1940.

226 Squadron flew Battles, and was one of the day-bomber squadrons that made up the Advanced Air Striking Force in France. The latter took a hammering during the fall of France, regardless of which 226 Squadron carried on fighting a retreating battle until its surviving aircraft flew back to the UK on 15 June 1940 (the day after Roskell was wounded).

Roskell’s M.I.9 debrief adds the following:

‘On 14 June, while engaged in salvage work, connected with the coming evacuation of the aerodrome in the village of Sooge (sic), about 30 miles north of Paris, I was hit by pieces of a bomb in a G.A.F. raid. Was removed in an ambulance with two other (L.A.C. Victor MacFarlane - slight injuries, L.A.C. Taylor - right leg blown off) Air Force personnel to a hospital in Sooge. There was also a Canadian, Pte. Thompson, George, lying in hospital with internal trouble. My fore-arm was amputated the same day.

Two days later, having been told that the Germans were rapidly approaching, MacFarlane [also awarded the M.M. for his gallantry during evasion], Thompson and I left, and shortly afterwards we were picked up by a French convoy and taken as far as Angers. We walked south for about ten miles and were picked up by another French ambulance and taken to Nantes (17th June). We were admitted to a large French Military Hospital on the outskirts of Nantes. A week later the Germans occupied Nantes, took over the hospital, but, fortunately, the French were able to smuggle us out and took us to a small hospital in a convent in the centre of town. A week later the Germans had evidently been informed of our whereabouts as they entered the hospital and we were informed that we were P/W and were not to leave the buildings. We were two months in this convent, and towards the end of this period a Frenchman, Monsieur B. (a dental mechanic working in Nantes), came and offered to get us out.

About 30th September we availed of his plan and scrambled over the outside wall into the street, where the Frenchman and two others were waiting to guide us. They took us to the house of a friend of theirs and we hid there for seven days; during this time the Frenchman got us civilian clothes and collected about 5,000frs. for us from among his friends. We went with him, and two other Frenchmen and a Frenchwoman, in a train to Angouleme, which we reached the following evening. We then took a small local train to Celle Frome and went on foot to La Pladieure at the line of demarcation and were guided across by friendly farmers.

Once in Unoccupied France we went by train again to Limoges and Toulouse and from there to Perpignan, where we intended to cross the Pyrenees into Spain. As we could not raise sufficient money between us for guides and the necessary bribing, we decided to maker for Marseilles, where we approached Mr. Fullerton, the American Consul. On his advice we three Air Force personnel went to 36 Rue de Forbin, where the Rev. Caskie looked after us during our stay in Marseilles. On the 14th December I went before the Mixed Medical Board at the Michel-Levy Hospital and was passed for repatriation, as being unfit.’

Roskell left Gibraltar on 14 February 1941, and arrived at Greenock on 23 February. He was eventually transferred to Halton Hospital, and was presented with his M.M. by His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace, 5 May 1942. Sergeant Roskell was discharged ‘Medically Unfit’ in August 1941, and died in Chelmsford in 1981.

Sold with copied research.