Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Private J. T. E. Acott, Royal West Kent Regiment, who was killed in action on the Greek Island of Leros in November 1943

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (2032649 Pte. J. Acott, R.W. Kent R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, extremely fine (6) £300-350

John Thomas Emerick Acott was killed in action on the Greek Island of Leros on 15 November 1944, aged 30 years, while serving in the 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kents. He is buried in Leros War Cemetery.

In September 1943, the Battalion had been ordered to the defence of the Greek Islands, and on the 15th of the following month, on Leros, was more or less wiped out, reeling under a ferocious German invasion. In bitter and confused fighting, with companies acting independently, all but 43 men were killed or taken prisoner within 24 hours. For a full account of this gallant and memorable action, see Lieutenant-Colonel H. D. Chaplin’s The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1920-50.