1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal GVIR bar Regular Army (1062859 W.O. CLII W.J. HEADLAND. R.A.)
William John Headland was born in Wetherby, Yorkshire on 1 June 1910. He enlisted with the Royal Artillery on 23 July 1925 and served with 157 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery in WWII and was Wounded in Action in the Middle East on 7 April 1941 and, later at Knightsbridge on 6 June 1942, taken Prisoner of War. He was held at Campo 53 in Italy and, after Italy had surrendered, Stalag IVB in Germany where he suffered from dysentery as a result of the poor diet.
He claimed to have assisted fellow prisoners to attempt an escape by allowing them to dig a tunnel from the compound of which he was in charge. This was in a transit camp in Italy. Information was leaked to an Italian Interpreter and he was sentenced to confinement in a fort along with several of his fellow prisoners.
On June 6, 1942, the Battle of Knightsbridge occurred during the Battle of Gazala in the North African desert. This was a fierce engagement where British forces were attacked by the German Afrika Korps and were severely depleted despite fierce resistance. The battle is significant as it was part of the larger German offensive that ultimately led to the fall of Tobruk shortly after.
According to the 1939 Register he was a Storeman and Constructor living at 61 Raeburn Road, Northampton.
He died at the Carlton Hotel, Loughborough, Leicestershire on 1 February 1976.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research including the Ex Prisoner of War Questionnaire.
