Lot 44
Arnhem Prisoner of War Group of 4 awarded to Private Roland Davies Bridgewater
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
The Incredible Arnhem Prisoner of War Group of 4 awarded to Private Roland Davies Bridgewater, 1st Parachute Brigade HQ, Army Air Corps, who was taken Prisoner of War at Arnhem on the 25th of September 1944 but who had been previously photographed during the battle in Oosterbeek, his identification in the photograph later being confirmed by the Imperial War Museum, comprising 1939‑45 Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, 1939‑45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, toned, very fine. (4)
Roland Davies Bridgewater was born on the 15th of December 1916. A bricklayer by trade, he joined the Territorial Army on the 20th of November 1941, serving with G Troop, 271 Battery, 68th Anti‑Tank Regiment Royal Artillery. He volunteered for the Parachute Regiment in 1943 whilst in North Africa and was posted to the 3rd Battalion. The Battalion took part in Operation Fustian, the attack on the Primosole Bridge in Sicily, and Operation Slapstick, the landings in Taranto on the Italian mainland. Presumably for one or both of these Operations, Roland was awarded the Italy Star.
After this, the 3rd Battalion was withdrawn to Britain with the rest of the 1st Airborne Division; the next mission was Operation Market Garden.
Roland, landed on the first day of the Battle, the 17th of September 1944, with the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, attached H.Q. 1 Para Brigade.
He was photographed in Oosterbeek during the Battle in one of the most iconic photographs from the Battle of Arnhem. Roland was reported ‘Missing’ on the 25th of September 1944 and later reported as ‘Now Prisoner of War’. Given PoW Number 91406, he was held at Stalag IVB in Germany until the end of the War.
Repatriated in 1945, he was released to the W (T) T.A. Reserve on the 12th of November 1945.
Roland went on to have a distinguished career with a Steel Company based in India.
Sold with:‑ (All Original Documents unless stated ‘Copy’)
13 Wartime photographs, some in uniform.
War Office Driving License 68 Anti-Tank
Field Post Card
Forces Air Mail Letter Addressed to 2379141 Pte Bridgewater R. 1st Parachute Brigade H.Q. B.N.A.F.
Arabic Card Sating “The Bearer is a Officer of the British Government and you will be well rewarded if you treat him well.”
Pegasus Shoulder Patch
Parachute Wings
Parachute Regiment Shoulder Title
Newspaper Cutting reporting Roland was a PoW.
Permanent HQ pass dated 1943
Identity Card for Prisoners of War
AB64 Soldiers Service and Pay Book – reissue 21st of August 1945
Memo about 4/3d the Germans took off him when captured
3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment Reunion Dinner Menu 27th September 1980
1st Parachute Brigade Reunion Dinner Menu 3rd of May 1947
Army Form W.3044 Release to the W Reserve.
Reunion Photograph 1980
HQ 1 Para Brigade Op Order for “Operation Reunion” dated 12th of April 1947
Travel Warrant from York to Redcar
Red and Green Identity Disks
Stay Bright Parachute Regiment Cap Badge
16 Prisoner of War Krieggefangenpost Letters addressed to Pte. Bridgewater R.D. Prisoner Number 91406 Stalag IVB Germany
Letter to Roland with Photograph in uniform dated 23rd June 1947
Copy Blown up Photograph of the Oosterbeek Photograph annotated to rear “Roland 3rd Bat Para Regiment Arnhem - Blow up of Photo in “A Bridge Too Far” Confirmed to be Roland Bridgewater on Left by Imperial War Museum (1980) - 100 out of 10,000 reached the objective”
A Postcard Album with assorted 1920s-30s and 40s post cards
A Folder of Passports, photographs invitations etc. relating to Roland’s time in India, and Iran in the 1950s.
See lot 69 Miniature Group.
