Beschreibung:

A particularly fine Second World War tank commander’s M.C. and escaper’s Bar group of eight awarded to Major E. E. Tonks, 10th Hussars (Royal Armoured Corps), who, having won his first decoration for ‘courage and determination of the highest order’, when he ‘advanced on foot alone, and with a Bren gun killed or wounded the crew of the anti-tank gun that was holding up the advance’, was taken P.O.W.: having then enjoyed a meeting with Rommel - and a ride in his staff car - he set about engineering his escape, a goal that was finally achieved in early 1944, following a shoot-out with a German patrol Military Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1944’ and privately inscribed, ‘Capt. E. E. Tonks, 10th R. Hussars’, and the reverse of the Bar officially dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; British Fire Services Association Long Service, bronze, with ‘B.F.S.A.’ clasp, the reverse of the suspension device officially inscribed ‘E. E. Tonks’ and the edge numbered ‘3402’; British Fire Services Association Long Service, silver, the reverse of the ‘Twenty Years’ suspension device officially inscribed ‘E. E. Tonks’ and the edge numbered ‘1856’, together with a set of related miniature dress medals (exclusing the B.F.S.A. awards), generally good very fine (16) £4000-5000 Footnote M.C. London Gazette 3 August 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘On 23 January 1942, at Saunnu, this officer was commanding a troop of tanks when they came under heavy and close range fire from anti-tank guns. Lieutenant Tonks’ tank was hit almost immediately, and burst into flames. The advance of the remainder of the Troop was held up. Showing courage and determination of the highest order, Lieutenant Tonks advanced on foot alone, and with a Bren gun killed or wounded the crew of the anti-tank gun that was holding up the advance, thus allowing it to be continued and saving further casualties. This officer’s coolness, devotion to duty and complete disregard for his personal safety was an inspiration to all. Two days later, this officer was captured and has now succeeded in escaping. He got away to our troops in Southern Italy, a distance of some 700 miles. Again, this officer showed his customary initiative, determination and courage in making good his escape. Out of 1850 P.O.Ws in his camp, under 50 escaped.’ The following covering remarks were attached to this recommendation, dated 21 March 1944, by Brigadier C. B. Harvey, C.O. 29 Armoured Division: ‘The attached recommendations for immediate awards went in to 2 Armoured Brigade H.Q. approximately the last two weeks of February 1942. I did not put them forward again, as I was informed that recommendations for officers and O.Rs that had become P.O.Ws in the meantime would be attended to when they were back in our hands. It appears that the recommendations for these two officers were, in fact, lost. Recently Lieutenant Tonks escaped and is back in the U.K., and Lieutenant Wyatt is known to be at leave in Italy. I would like to put these recommendations forward again with the remark that during my command of 10th Royal Hussars there were none more richly deserved.’ Bar to M.C. London Gazette 9 November 1944. The original recommendation states: ‘Captured at Msus on 25 January 1942 by the Germans, Lieutenant Tonks was imprisoned at Tripoli, Capua, Padula and Bologna (Camp 19). Whilst at Padula he took part in several tunnel schemes; the last one was conceived by him and he had already worked on it for sometime before divulging it to the Escape Committee. This had, however, to be abandoned when a concrete wall was reached. After the Armistice, Lieutenant Tonks, braving the German fire which burst forth as the mass evacuation was commencing, successfully evaded recapture. During his journey he met a party of paratroops, dropped to guide P.O.Ws to the coast, and remained with five of them in a peasant’s hut