El Alamein related POW group

[Anthony N]

Bought this group on saturday at the Stockport fair. Looked over the guys tables twice without noticing it, gave it one last look before i left & found this group with debriefing sheet.
Thought it would be of interest here as he was taken prisoner by Rommel's troops:

Sgt Donald McCormick, Royal Artillery, 10th Indian Division
1939-45 star, Africa star, War medal, GSM (Palestine 1945-48)

A Clerk from Glasgow before the war, he joined up 2/9/1939. Captured at Matruh 29/6/1942. After two camps in Italy he spent most of his time in Stalag IV Muhlberg.

He was taken prisoner when the 10th Indian Division were covering the 8th Armies retreat to El Alemein & were overun at the Mersa Matruh defenses.

[Anthony N]

2

[Anthony N]

3

[Robert Shoaf]

A very nice group, congratulations. I see that he was captured in June, 1942, a very bad month for the 8th Army.

Bob Shoaf

[Anthony N]

A very nice group, congratulations. I see that he was captured in June, 1942, a very bad month for the 8th Army.

Bob Shoaf

Thanks Bob, it's funny how evryone here in the UK forgets about June 1942, as you say, not the best of times.
I'm suprised that after 3 years as a POW he decided to stay in the army, but i guess times were hard & people were happy to have a decent wage.
It's so difficult to buy WWII medal groups that have any research potential unless you go down the very expensive Gallantry route. Made this little group a must for me.

[Mark Gibson]

A very nice grouping Anthony, especially seeing his extremely early enlistment date as well. Australians who enlisted during this early period are affectionately called the Thirty Niners and a very highly regarded.
I suspect that our British brethren who enlisted in the early days are also highly regarded.

Mark

[Anthony N]

A very nice grouping Anthony, especially seeing his extremely early enlistment date as well. Australians who enlisted during this early period are affectionately called the Thirty Niners and a very highly regarded.
I suspect that our British brethren who enlisted in the early days are also highly regarded.

Mark

Thanks for your input Mark. Interesting stuff.
I'm pretty new to collecting British militaria so i'm no expert, but as you say, everything about this group makes it highly regarded by me at least!

[Robert Shoaf]

Also, Sgt. McCormick was no spring chicken, enlisting at age 30. and not waiting to be conscripted. Many believe that the Royal Artillery was the overall best arm of of service in the British Army of WWII, with great skill allied to devotion to duty.

Bob Shoaf

[Anthony N]

Thirty is indeed quite old for someone to volunteer.
There's a dealer i always chat to at the fairs who used to collect Royal Artillery. They're nowhere near the top of the collectors list, but as you say, they were superb & lets face it, they took a lot of pressure from the Luftwaffe & German Artillery, not exactly the safest of place to be.

[sscrooge]

nice catch Anthony i never saw it at the fair so its nice to see what you picked up, rgds Dave

[Anthony N]

nice catch Anthony i never saw it at the fair so its nice to see what you picked up, rgds Dave

Thanks, picked it up after you left, was too busy talking while you were around

[Mooyman]

Very nice group!!!!

Best regards,

Ricardo.