John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Clayton
  • FORENAME
Patrick Andrew
  • UNIT
LRPU T Patrol + LRDG T Patrol
  • RANK
Second Lieutenant (A/Captain) + Major
  • NUMBER
147264
  • AWARD
Distinguished Service Order, Member of the Order of the British Empire, Mention in Despatches
  • PLACE
North Africa 1940-41
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit General List
resided The Chart, Limpsfield, near Oxted, Kent
served Egytian Desert Survey Department prewar
joined LRPU July 1940
WIA and POW 1.2.1941 Murzuk, the Fezzan
M.B.E. 15.11.1945
died 1962
166-884dee2c3d2ae76283c15e121087f144.jpg
 

CITATION:

Member of the Order of the British Empire : Following his capture in the Western Desert on 1 Feb 41, Major CLAYTON was imprisoned at SULMONA and VEANO (Italy).

After his release from the latter camp on 9 Sep 43, he travelled South in an effort to reach Allied lines but was caught by the Germans on 22 Dec 43. Although he succeeded in eluding his captors he was again apprehended on 8 Jan 44, and entrained for Germany.

En route he took part in an escape attempt, but only two officers got away. Throughout the fours years of his captivity, Major CLAYTON did valuable work forging passes, identity cards and ration cards, and copying maps. He was also in secret communication with the War Office. Two senior officers have commended Major CLAYTON for his Intelligence activities.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7396736 (MBE)
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