10th Battalion Parachute Regiment | Sergeant Harbour

Taken Prisoner At Arnhem during Market garden Operation

Medals and insignias  belonging to 64002134 Sergeant Frederick Spencer Harbour. The grouping consists of the following:

1-Parachute Wing, Pegusus patch and metal Parachute cap badge

2-medals contained within the original Ministry of Defence box, named to Harbour, consisting of:

Africa Star

Italy Star

France & Germany Star

1939 – 1945 Star

1939 – 1945 medal

Defence Medal

Condition report: The insignias showing removal from a uniform and general service use. The medals in unused close to mint condition, complete with most of the cellophane wrappers. Medal entitlement with typical folds. Medal box generally clean. Harbour’s name and address clear.

Notes: Harbour was born in Battle in East Sussex in July 1918. He would have served in the 2nd Battalion East Sussex Regiment in the North African Campaign.  

This battalion became the 10th (Sussex) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps at Kabrit in the Canal Zone in January 1943. Harbour would have then taken part in Operation Slapstick during the first stage of the invasion of Italy.

Harbour's next action would have been on Operation Market Garden where his unit landed near Arnhem and fought during the 1st Airborne Division perimeter fighting at Oosterbeek. Captain Lionel Queripel from the  same Battalion won a posthumous VC during the action.

Harbour was taken prisoner at Arnhem, and imprisoned at Stalag 12A until being released at the end of the war. He later emigrated to Australia where he died in 2005.

Provenance: This group was placed in the premier Australian Sydney-based auction, Noble Numismatics, by the family, and acquired by the consigner. Various copies of research documents included in the sale.