Lot 71
An RAF Escapers Medals who Founded a Judo School at Stalag 383 and attempted to Escape 3 Times
"Behind The Wire" - Medal and Militaria Sale | M25001
Auction: 17 September 2025 at 14:00 BST
Description
An RAF Escapers Medals who Founded a Judo School at Stalag 383 and attempted to Escape 3 Times, the son of a British Mother and Japanese father he once escaped disguised a Japanese worker awarded to Sergeant, later Warrant Officer, Percy Sekine, Wireless Operator Air Gunner of 83 Squadron who was shot down 10/11th January 1942, Comprising, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued and Caterpillar Badge (Sgt. P. Sekine), very fine (4)
83 Squadron
On the 10th of January 1942, the Squadron operated for the last time in Hampden aircraft when six crews attacked Wilhelmshaven. From that attack Sgt Fletcher, flying AE133 failed to return, having been shot down at Kapen Sgt Fletcher and the Observer, Fox were killed, Sgts Sekine and Holme taken prisoner.
Percy Sekine Remembered the event:-
“We took off from Scampton around 17.00 Hrs on the 10th of January 1942, the target Wilhelmshaven. Over Germany, approaching the target, either through FLAK or a mechanical failure, the port engine packed up and with a full bomb load we started to loose height. The port engine also powered the generator so we could not drop the bombs which we gad to do to stand a chance of getting back. To ditch in the see in January ’42 was certain death, and Martin Fletcher, our pilot, told me to try and release the bombs manually, but it was no good; we threw overboard everything of weight, guns, cylinders etc.
Then Martin turned the aircraft inland, (we had been heading out to sea) and told us to bale out. I jumped at under 3,00o feet, Harold followed. The last I heard before that was Leonard Fox (second pilot) asking and helping Martin to control the rudder pedals.
Less than a minute after I jumped, they crashed, lighting up the sky with the explosion, as I was still on the way down. Leonard Fox and Martin Fletcher are buried in Sage, a cemetery on the way to Wilhelmshaven. I owe my life to Martin, a fine brave Rhodesian.
I was captured about 5 hours later, the usual interrogation and first of many Stalags was VIIA Mooseburg, near Munich. I escaped from there in July 19423 by climbing the wire between two sentry boxes, aided by pouring rain which deadened sound and caused the sentry to shelter as I went over. I was free for seven days but was caught outside Innsbruck. There were two more escape attempts, one by tunnel under the wire, the next on a working party (dressed as a Japanese).
His Ex-PoW Report states
1 Escaped from VIIA by climbing the outer wire, recaptured at Garmisch Escaped 1.7.42 captured 7.7.42 By Military Police – No Companions,
2 From 383 By Tunnel Recaptured at Resenburg Near Ingolstadt, unable to carry on through sickness. My Companion W?O T Baronowski carried on but caught 5 days later.
3 From 383 off Fatigue party, Captured Resenburg
Whilst a Prisoner of War at Stalag 383 in Bavaria he organised a judo club, negotiating with the guards for canvas and sacking to make a mat and jackets. He was soon running regular training sessions and even the occasional tournament; but his wartime Judo career was brought to and end when he escaped from 383, his third escape, dressed as a Japanese
Percy Sekine was born of a British Mother and Japanese father, his father worked for The Mitsui Bank in London. When he volunteered for the RAF, aged 19, he was already a Black Belt.
After the war Percy Sekine became a renowned judo expert, training comedian Tommy Cooper and race car legend Stirling Moss as well as Royal Marines at his Hammersmith judoka.
He weighed only 9.5st but was so proficient he captained the British judo team during the 1950s and 1960s.
Percy Sekine, who had a wife and son, died aged 90 in 2010.
Sold with Original Air Gunners Brevet, Original Brass Wireless Operators Sleeve Badge and RAF Cap Badge, Original Judo Black Belt made from Canvas while in Stalag 383, original Judo Club Badge made in Stalag 383, Various Judo Badges, Copy The Long Road by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Raymond Crompton
Copy Ex Pow Report, Copy Red Cross Letter. Copy annotated photographs of Sgt Sekine with Crew, in Flying Kit and his Judo Group in the PoW Camp.
His Paperwork, Log Book,, Wartime Log Caterpillar Membership Card, Photographs and uniform were sold in 2022
