Original Bar Mounted and Framed WW2 8th Army Medal Group Awarded to J. Richardson – Royal Engineers - 1902313

Here on offer is an original bar mounted and framed WW2 8th Army medal group along with a HM Armed Forces Veteran badge, awarded to J. Richardson of the Royal Engineers, with a service no. 1902313.

The full-size medal group consists of six medals:

The 1939 – 1945 Star and ribbon
The Africa Star with 8th Army bar and ribbon
The Italy Star and ribbon
The France and Germany Star and ribbon
Defence medal and ribbon
War medal and ribbon

8th Army Bar

This was awarded for service with the 8th Army between 23rd October 1942, the date of the Battle of El Alamein and the 12th May, 1943. An Arabic numeral '8' is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote this bar. This award is controversial because Eighth Army was created in October 1941 and fought in Africa for a year before the award service requirement.

These medals have been fitted to a long chrome medal bar and pin which has then been professionally fixed to a blue felt covered board, which is fitted inside a glass fronted wooden frame.

A mint example of an enamel HM Armed Forces Veteran badge has also been just pinned to the board, I guess by the owner at some point.

You can gain access to the medals from the back just by swiveling the metal catches that hold the board in place.

Also inside the frame is a gilt brass plaque engraved with the original owner’s details:

1902313
J. RICHARDSON
ROYAL ENGINEERS

I have done some basic research into his WW2 service and found that he appeared on a WW2 British Expeditionary Forces (France) Casualty List and was listed as missing on 29/5/1940. He then appears on a later casualty listing for “Previously Reported Missing Now Not Missing”, as he was clearly still found to be alive!

He must have been one of the lucky members of the BEF that got evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk during May/June 1940. He then went on to serve in Italy and Africa campaigns, earning him these medals.

He served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers, 654th General Construction Company, served with Lines of Communication (L of C) Troops BEF 1940. Egypt by 1942 on the Alamein Line. They were then renamed the 654th AWC.

He clearly survived WW2 and was proud to wear his medals and HM Armed Forces Veteran badge.

All the medals and ribbons are in excellent untouched original condition; no nicks or dents.

The frame measures 11” (28cm) by 7.5” (19cm) and the medal group in the frame has a combined weight of 620g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Thanks for taking the time to look.

Code: 51581