A group of medals awarded to a second world war lieutenant and prisoner of war is expected to see the highest bids in the Spink auction of Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria on April 25 in London.
 Lieutenant Garfield sucessfully escaped after leaping from the window of a hospital train |
Comprising the POW and Partisans MBE, 1940 Retreat to Dunkirk MC and the Commandos' 1941 Litani River Raid second award bar among others, the group of nine is expected to see £25,000-30,000 ($38,070-45,684).
The medals were awarded to Lieutenant EF Garfield of the York and Lancaster Regiment. Garfield first made a name for himself as one of the first to cross the Litani River at the Battle of the Litani River in Lebanon in 1941, where he had a daring personal fight with a sniper and a 75mm gun.
Following this remarkable action, Garfield joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot, and was shot down during the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944. Immediately captured, he was subsequently taken to hospital, where he made several escape attempts despite serious burns and a wound to his leg.
Garfield finally escaped the hospital after jumping from a hospital train in Verona. After walking for three days, he attempted to join with some partisans, but was forced to take refuge with an Italian family. He eventually made his way back to American lines in 1945.
Remember one of the greatest heroes of the second world war with our fantastic Guy Gibson-signed photograph - an exceptionally rare piece from the commanding officer of the famous Dam Busters raid.
