A Second World War North Africa theatre Military Medal and subsequent Prisoner of War group awarded to Serjeant R.T. Bryant, Royal Artillery who was captured after the fighting at El Abem, Libya on 15th June 1942, having served with Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank units. Having been wounded he would spend some time in hospital and later was held in camps in Germany before he was released by the advancing allies after having spent two months marching around Germany. He would later be awarded a Military Medal in the London Gazette of 21st February 1946, almost certainly for his actions before being taken prisoner in North Africa.
Group of 5: Military Medal, GVIR 1st type bust, (71093 SJT. R.T. BRYANT. R.A.) 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; War Medal. These four court-mounted for wear. Corps of Commissionaires Medal with bar 15 years, the reverse engraved (1612 BRYANT R.T.C. 24/11/78)
Condition: the first four court-mounted for wear, Good Very Fine
Along with:
Image of the recipient in uniform
Regular Army Certificate of Service
Army Book 64 – Soldier’s Service and Pay Book.
Dunkirk Veterans Association Australia Membership Card.
Veterans of King Albert I Membership card addressed to Mr R.T.C. Bryant, 16 Halsey Street, Ferntree Gully, Victoria 3156, Australia.
Forwarding letter for MM named to 871093 Sjt R.T.C. Bryant, M.M., Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Second World War medal forwarding slip
Certificate of Service with a discharge date of 17th April 1939 stating he had been discharged having enlisted into the Regular Army.
Army Certificate of Education Third Class dated 18th May 1939
Certified copy of attestation dated 11th April 1939
Robert Taylor Charles Bryant was born on 25th March 1920 at Bristol, Gloucestershire. He worked as a grocer prior to the war, joining the Territorial Army on 23rd June 1937 at Southampton. Serving with the rank of Gunner, he joined 153 Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) on 26th September 1938, leaving the Territorials for the Regular Army he enlisted on 11th April 1939. He was certainly present for Dunkirk, being awarded the Dunkirk Veteran’s Medal after the war.
He would subsequently serve in North Africa, writing letters to his brother (copies of two of which are included) in which he is serving with 1 Sub, C. Troop with the rank of Sergeant. Bryant was taken prisoner of war at El Abem, Libya on 15th June 1942. From here he undertook a series of journeys, firstly to Porte St. Giorgio in December 1942, where he suffered from Malnutrition and Osteomyelitis from May 1943. He transferred to a hospital in Termino in June and stayed there until he was moved to Germany in November. He would subsequently transfer to Stalag VIIIB at Lamsdorf and was employed in polishing gravestones at Niklasdorf from January 1944 until October when he moved to Stalag VIIIA at Gorlitz. Bryant’s records recount one tale from his time as a Prisoner of War stating:
‘The bad conditions under which we marched from east Germany to the west then back. Marching from 14th February for recapture on 11th April. This was accompanied by lack of food, bad accommodation, sanitation, at a brick factory at Duderstadt which held us, 2,000 in all, this was especially noticeable. A broken pump provided water for all. Here a South African was shot for making a fire for cooking.
An article in the Daily Echo on 25th March 1946 provides some context for his release stating that he had been:
‘Taken care of by American forces near the Elbe in April of last year, he was on the march with other prisoners of war, who had freed themselves as the German troops retreated.’
He would duly be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 21st February 1946, he would also later apply for an Italy Star and France and Germany Star but would be informed that he was not eligible for either. Later laving in Victoria, Australia he would receive the Corps of Commissionaires Merit Medal with a 15 year bar on 23rd August 1988.
Not carrying a citation, this award was most likely recommended by his former Commanding Officer on release, the paperwork for the award being lost in the chaos of surrender in 1942.
