Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private E. J. Stayton, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, almost certainly a casualty of Orde Wingate’s second Chindit operation in May to August 1944

1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, in original card forwarding box addressed to the recipient’s mother at Margate, near St. Alban’s, Hertfordshire, and with related Army Council condolence slip in the name of ‘Pte. E. J. Stayton’, extremely fine (4) £60-80

Eric James Stayton, the son of Edward Stayton, M.M., and his wife Florence, died on 16 September 1944, aged 25 years, while serving in the 1st Battalion, the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. He was buried in Delhi War Cemetery. Since his Battalion formed part of Orde Wingate’s force and was heavily engaged in the second Chindit operation in May to August 1944, it seems more than likely that he died as a result of wounds, not least since special arrangements had been made to ensure Wingate’s wounded men were regularly evacuated by air to India; also see Lot 1256 for his father’s M.M.