A WW2 P.O.W. Group of 4 awarded to Sergeant Charles Albert Balls, 2nd/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment, who was captured and taken as a prisoner of war at Deir-el-Shein, North Africa, on 1 July 1942 – during their defiant ‘last stand’ – and who was afterwards sent into captivity in Italy and Germany, comprising: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal, 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Territorial Type (6009188 Cpl. C. A. Balls. Essex. R.); Group swing-mounted on card for display, with regimental cap badge, toned, good very fine (5) Corporal Charles Albert Balls, of Colchester, Essex, was born on 6 May 1915 and enlisted for military service on 20 November 1929. Serving with the 2nd/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment in WW2, he served in North Africa and was captured on 1 July 1942 at Deir-el-Shein, just seven miles south of El-Alamein. Here the 2nd/5th Essex Regiment were attacked in force by Rommel’s 15th Panzer Division and subsequently destroyed, despite their heroic resistance, with all men either dead, wounded or taken prisoner. He was sent to Campo 70 in Italy, and then onto Stalag IV-B at Muhlberg between 9 November 1943 and 23 April 1945. His P.O.W. questionnaire also records: ‘I would like to bring to notice about prisoners being shot in cold blood in Stalag 4B; one man shot dead for getting a ball just inside the wire, inside the camp; also the Germans shot one man for getting coal – the did not trouble to give us much coal. Also planes killed one man by flying too low over the camp.’

Estimate: GBP 150 - 200