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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 364

An Escaper's M.M. group of six awarded to Lance Corporal R. Holtby, Green Howards, who - with remarkable persistence - attempted to escape no less than three times, finally succeeding on the final run

Having joined underage Holtby was to see action in France 1940, the Dunkirk evacuation and the War in the Desert before his capture; his exploits in Italy make for exiting reading as he filed open the train door and leapt from the back of speeding trucks to make his final successful bid for freedom

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4391447 L. Cpl. R. Holtby. Green. Howards.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R. (4391447 Pte. R. Holtby. Green. Howards.), light contact wear, overall very fine (6)

Provenance:
Glendinning's, June 1889.

M.M. London Gazette 12 September 1944, the original recommendation states:

'On 9 Sep 43, before the general evacuation of Camp 54, Holtby left with eleven other prisoners and went with them to Monte Flavia, from where he set off alone to cross the lines. He had only reached Settefratti when he was recaptured by Germans. About the end of October he was entrained for Germany, but after travelling for about 2 hours succeeded in escaping and reaching Sora before he was taken ill with pneumonia. Upon his recovery he decided to make for the Anzio beachhead, but at Borgo Grappa he was again arrested by Germans. Five days later, as he was being transferred to Gisterno, he jumped off the truck and travelled to San Silvanion, where he stayed two months. After the Allied attack on Terracina he met an American patrol on 23 May 44.'

Roy Holtby was born at Beverley, Yorkshire on 8 August 1921, the son of Francis and Edith Holtby. Joining the Territorial Army at Beverley before the war, his obituary notes that he joined underage - his 18th birthday was in August 1939. He was serving with the 5th Battalion in France in 1940 where they took part in the Battle of Arras and later the Dunkirk evacuation.

Returning to Britian the Battalion was not linger there for long before they were posted to the desert for serving in the Middle East. Their first engagement there was to be the Battle of Gazala in which the 50th Division - to which the Battalion was attached - suffered heavy losses during the Defence of the Knightsbridge box. Either during the attack or retreat Holtby was taken prisoner of war and from North Africa was transported to Italy, finding himself at Camp 54, Fara Nel Sabina in 1943.

News of the Armistice with Italy arrived on 8 September 1943 and three days later the prisoners were told they would need to make their own escapes. Formed into two parties they set out, Holtby made a more determined attempt than many of his comrades, carrying on alone where they others stopped however he was soon recaptured.

Put on a train in October to be transported he seized the opportunity and filed the lock on the carriage door open. Jumping from the train he was able to escape again, this did not last long before he was recaptured for the final time. Not to be discouraged he waited until he was again being transported and leapt from the back of the truck carrying him, after so much time on the run the Allies had advanced well into Italy and Holtby was able to contact the American forces not long later.

Returning to Britain after the war he was awarded his Efficiency Medal in April 1946 and settled at 71 Beaver Road, Beverley. He died at Hull on 15 June 1989.

After his death an obituary was posted in the local newspaper which states:

'A Modest Beverly war hero has died at the age of 67.
Former soldier Mr Roy Holtby who won the Military Medal, escaped three times from prisoner-of-war camps during World War Two.
On the last occasion [SIC] he helped others to safety when he filed open the carriage door of a train carrying troops.
Mr Holtby, who was under age when he joined up, was among those evacuated from Dunkirk.
After the War, he set up in busines [SIC] as a builder in his home town of Beverley, retiring six years ago because of ill-health.'

The Green Howards Gazette of September 1989 further states:

'The death took place on 16th June, 1898 of Mr Roy Holtby MM. He had suffered a heart condition for a few years. Roy joined the TA in Beverely prior to the war and served with the 5th Battalion, serving in France 1940 and was evacuated from Dunkirk. He served in the Middle East throughout the Desert Campaign until he was taken prisoner at Gazala ad was sent to Italy. He escaped twice from captivity [SIC] and on one occasion he was awarded the Military Medal. He eventually escaped to Switzerland [SIC] and eventually to England and stayed in England until demobilisation. He was a builder by trade and was very well known and respected by all his many friends.'

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Estimate
£1,200 to £1,600

Starting price
£950