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Outstanding Medals, Insignia and Paperwork Archive of Signalman Robert W Chapman Royal Signals Attac
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Description
Outstanding Medals, Insignia and Paperwork Archive of Signalman Robert W Chapman Royal Signals Attached 1st SAS Brigade, Late Kings Own Royal Regiment, Captured After S.O.E Operation Disclaim in Occupied Yugoslavia, Multiple Escape Attempts from Captivity, Finally Escaping in 1945 and Operating with Partisans in Yugoslavia, the medals consist of General Service Medal 1918-62 George VI with single clasp Palestine “3711283 PTE R CHAPMAN KINGS OWN”, 1939-45 star, Africa star, Defence medal, 1939-45 War medal and EIIR Regular Army Long Service Good Conduct medal “3711283 S. SGT. R. W. CHAPMAN. R. SIGS.” Medals are swing mounted for wear and accompanied by matching miniature medals; cloth insignia including a privately tailored, possibly middle east made embroidered cloth shoulder title “1ST S.A.S”, pair of embroidered S.A.S parachute qualified jump wings, bullion embroidered Army Recruiter shoulder title, Royal Signals cloth shoulder title and regimental blazer badge. The grouping is also accompanied by a very large archive of original documents and photographs taken during the pre-war service in Palestine, but also during WW2, including one of himself and another comrade in uniform said to be in a house where they were hidden which was eventually blown up by Soviet Russian forces during the Russian advance west. Some of the documents include original letters sent by Chapman from prisoner of war camps, original POW leaflets, including one produced by the Germans titled “To all Prisoners of War! The escape from prison camps is no longer a sport!”. His regular army certificate of service document details his periods of service and confirms his time as a POW in Germany from 7th February 1942 until 1945, he continued to serve after with the BAOR into the late 1950’s. Many photographs accompany the group, showing Chapman in uniform, many of which he proudly wears the SAS parachute qualification wing. A truly fantastic archive which needs to be viewed to appreciate the grouping. Robert William Chapman was born on 10th February 1918 in Barrow in Furness, he enlisted into the Kings Own Royal Regiment on 29th February 1936. He served with the regiment during the campaign in Palestine, moving to the Royal Signals in 1941. He served and a wireless operator with the Royal Signals and was attached to the 1st SAS brigade at Kabrit on 25th December 1941. Chapman was selected by British Intelligence officer Major Kevan Elliott for the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E) Operation Disclaim. The mission was to re-establish contact with General Mihailovic, who was perceived to be the leader of the Yugoslavian resistance forces, who along with his men were in hiding in the mountains of Yugoslavia. Intelligence was very weak and they did not have an accurate idea of exactly where Mihailovic was. Chapman was requested for the mission because he had been trained in the specialist radio equipment which was being used. The two were accompanied by Fight Sergeant Miljkovic and 2nd Lieutenant Crnjanski of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force. The team trained in Egypt before departing from Malta in a Whitley bomber with ling rang fuel tanks for Yugoslavia on 4/5th February 1942. They parachuted over the Romania plateau east of Sarajevo into deep snow and icy cold. It was a disaster. The area was crawling with Germans and Croats alerted by the Whitleys endless circling before the drop, and most of their supplies fell out of reach, or were smashed. The four men were captured on the 6th or 7th February 1942. Because they were in uniform, otherwise they would have been shot for being spies. When captured Major Elliott was already known to the German Gestapo. An extract from Chapman’s interrogation report states the following, “The plane, after everything had been dropped and everyone had jumped, turned back towards Alexandria. Whilst the plane was manoeuvring one of the side doors came off and fell to the ground. It was a beautiful moonlight night; the snow was thigh deep. Acting according to his instructions he buried his parachute in the snow and flashed a signal with his pocket torch, a signal to which there was however, no reply. It began to get foggy. He walked for 20 minutes, sinking into the snow at every step, towards the edge of a wood; he tired rapidly, at dawn he found himself about 1600 meters from a farm. He fired three pistol shots in the air. After half an hour Major Elliott arrived, he too had buried his parachute. After another half an hour, and after another two shots had been fired, the two Serbs were traced. Finally the short-wave transmitter was also found. When day came they took cover in a hiding place in the snow which had probably been prepared by the partisans. Chapman buried the radio. They passed the whole day in the hiding place. They thought they could see some containers with parachutes attached about 1600 meters away, but they did not dare to leave their hiding place because at about the same distance away, at about 0700 hours, they noticed 30-40 men walking along the road. They thought they saw the four containers taken by these men. They awaited the evening in the hiding place, but did not dare to leave even during the night and remained in the same place trembling from the cold. On the morning of the 6th they decided to go and look for the containers. After the first 200 meters Major Elliott and the Serbian sergeant were so tired that they dropped to the ground and stayed there. Chapman and the other Serbian went on further but nothing was found. Completely exhausted they returned to their hiding place and spent another night and day there. On the morning of the 7th they decided to move into the apparently uninhabited farm. Chapman and the Serbian 2nd Lieutenant went ahead followed by the Serbian sergeant who carried on his shoulders the completely exhausted Major Elliott. At 1000 hours some Croatian soldiers captured the parachutists who put up no resistance”. Chapman made numerous escape attempts from being a prisoner of war, the first was along with 60 others from Stalag Luft IIIe on 1st May 1942, after making his way across Europe, he was eventually captured again on 11th May and returned to Stalag Luft IIIe. In October 1942, whilst imprisoned at Stalag 8B, he along with 14 others made an escape attempt but searchlights and machine guns opened up and they were returned to the camp. His 3rd attempt was whilst part of a working party at Stramberg cement factory on 1st May 1943, he was on the run for 3 weeks, in Yugoslavia, however he was betrayed and was once again captured. His final escape was successful, in April 1945 he managed to escape and contacted Partisan forces along with a Corporal Hudson. They managed to find a Partisan house where they were helped with civilian clothes, this house was eventually bombed by the Soviet Russian forces during the fighting. Chapman fought with the partisan forces until 23rd May 1945, being repatriated on 30th May 1945, returning to England. He continued to served in the Royal Corps of Signals with the British Army of the Rhine
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Outstanding Medals, Insignia and Paperwork Archive of Signalman Robert W Chapman Royal Signals Attached 1st SAS Brigade, Late Kings Own Royal Regiment, Captured After S.O.E Operation Disclaim in Occupied Yugoslavia, Multiple Escape Attempts from Captivity, Finally Escaping in 1945 and Operating with Partisans in Yugoslavia, the medals consist of General Service Medal 1918-62 George VI with single clasp Palestine “3711283 PTE R CHAPMAN KINGS OWN”, 1939-45 star, Africa star, Defence medal, 1939-45 War medal and EIIR Regular Army Long Service Good Conduct medal “3711283 S. SGT. R. W. CHAPMAN. R. SIGS.” Medals are swing mounted for wear and accompanied by matching miniature medals; cloth insignia including a privately tailored, possibly middle east made embroidered cloth shoulder title “1ST S.A.S”, pair of embroidered S.A.S parachute qualified jump wings, bullion embroidered Army Recruiter shoulder title, Royal Signals cloth shoulder title and regimental blazer badge. The grouping is also accompanied by a very large archive of original documents and photographs taken during the pre-war service in Palestine, but also during WW2, including one of himself and another comrade in uniform said to be in a house where they were hidden which was eventually blown up by Soviet Russian forces during the Russian advance west. Some of the documents include original letters sent by Chapman from prisoner of war camps, original POW leaflets, including one produced by the Germans titled “To all Prisoners of War! The escape from prison camps is no longer a sport!”. His regular army certificate of service document details his periods of service and confirms his time as a POW in Germany from 7th February 1942 until 1945, he continued to serve after with the BAOR into the late 1950’s. Many photographs accompany the group, showing Chapman in uniform, many of which he proudly wears the SAS parachute qualification wing. A truly fantastic archive which needs to be viewed to appreciate the grouping. Robert William Chapman was born on 10th February 1918 in Barrow in Furness, he enlisted into the Kings Own Royal Regiment on 29th February 1936. He served with the regiment during the campaign in Palestine, moving to the Royal Signals in 1941. He served and a wireless operator with the Royal Signals and was attached to the 1st SAS brigade at Kabrit on 25th December 1941. Chapman was selected by British Intelligence officer Major Kevan Elliott for the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E) Operation Disclaim. The mission was to re-establish contact with General Mihailovic, who was perceived to be the leader of the Yugoslavian resistance forces, who along with his men were in hiding in the mountains of Yugoslavia. Intelligence was very weak and they did not have an accurate idea of exactly where Mihailovic was. Chapman was requested for the mission because he had been trained in the specialist radio equipment which was being used. The two were accompanied by Fight Sergeant Miljkovic and 2nd Lieutenant Crnjanski of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force. The team trained in Egypt before departing from Malta in a Whitley bomber with ling rang fuel tanks for Yugoslavia on 4/5th February 1942. They parachuted over the Romania plateau east of Sarajevo into deep snow and icy cold. It was a disaster. The area was crawling with Germans and Croats alerted by the Whitleys endless circling before the drop, and most of their supplies fell out of reach, or were smashed. The four men were captured on the 6th or 7th February 1942. Because they were in uniform, otherwise they would have been shot for being spies. When captured Major Elliott was already known to the German Gestapo. An extract from Chapman’s interrogation report states the following, “The plane, after everything had been dropped and everyone had jumped, turned back towards Alexandria. Whilst the plane was manoeuvring one of the side doors came off and fell to the ground. It was a beautiful moonlight night; the snow was thigh deep. Acting according to his instructions he buried his parachute in the snow and flashed a signal with his pocket torch, a signal to which there was however, no reply. It began to get foggy. He walked for 20 minutes, sinking into the snow at every step, towards the edge of a wood; he tired rapidly, at dawn he found himself about 1600 meters from a farm. He fired three pistol shots in the air. After half an hour Major Elliott arrived, he too had buried his parachute. After another half an hour, and after another two shots had been fired, the two Serbs were traced. Finally the short-wave transmitter was also found. When day came they took cover in a hiding place in the snow which had probably been prepared by the partisans. Chapman buried the radio. They passed the whole day in the hiding place. They thought they could see some containers with parachutes attached about 1600 meters away, but they did not dare to leave their hiding place because at about the same distance away, at about 0700 hours, they noticed 30-40 men walking along the road. They thought they saw the four containers taken by these men. They awaited the evening in the hiding place, but did not dare to leave even during the night and remained in the same place trembling from the cold. On the morning of the 6th they decided to go and look for the containers. After the first 200 meters Major Elliott and the Serbian sergeant were so tired that they dropped to the ground and stayed there. Chapman and the other Serbian went on further but nothing was found. Completely exhausted they returned to their hiding place and spent another night and day there. On the morning of the 7th they decided to move into the apparently uninhabited farm. Chapman and the Serbian 2nd Lieutenant went ahead followed by the Serbian sergeant who carried on his shoulders the completely exhausted Major Elliott. At 1000 hours some Croatian soldiers captured the parachutists who put up no resistance”. Chapman made numerous escape attempts from being a prisoner of war, the first was along with 60 others from Stalag Luft IIIe on 1st May 1942, after making his way across Europe, he was eventually captured again on 11th May and returned to Stalag Luft IIIe. In October 1942, whilst imprisoned at Stalag 8B, he along with 14 others made an escape attempt but searchlights and machine guns opened up and they were returned to the camp. His 3rd attempt was whilst part of a working party at Stramberg cement factory on 1st May 1943, he was on the run for 3 weeks, in Yugoslavia, however he was betrayed and was once again captured. His final escape was successful, in April 1945 he managed to escape and contacted Partisan forces along with a Corporal Hudson. They managed to find a Partisan house where they were helped with civilian clothes, this house was eventually bombed by the Soviet Russian forces during the fighting. Chapman fought with the partisan forces until 23rd May 1945, being repatriated on 30th May 1945, returning to England. He continued to served in the Royal Corps of Signals with the British Army of the Rhine
Two Day Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-515
Lots: 516 - 905
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This auction is an Online Only event with no in room bidding available.
This auction takes place over two days
9th March - Lot 1 - 515
10th March - Lot 516 - 905
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PLEASE READ OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS BELOW BEFORE BIDDING THANK YOU
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