WW2 NEW ZEALAND/BRITISH TROBUK MM GROUP TO STANLEY MAY

Stanley May was born 9 June 1916 in West Derby, Lancashire, England.

In August 1939 he joined the Royal Army in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, Service Number 2929616. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion which served in Sudan, Egypt, and Libya (Tobruk). The Allies had captured the strategically important city of Tobruk and in 1942 were holding it (along with the 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders) but under extreme pressure from the Germans who had isolated the city. The second Battle of Tobruk took place between 14 and 22 June, 1942. By the 22nd, the Germans had largely overrun Tobruk and the Cameron Highlanders held out for 24 hours after the Surrender order had been issued. Despite being taken into captivity, they marched, led by their Colonel in “column of three” formation with a swing to the tune of their Pipers – The March of the Cameron men – each company led by its company commander just as though they were on parade. Stanley was reported as missing on 21 June 1942. Casualty List No. 889 as Missing, 21/06/1942.

Prisoner of War in Italy - P.O.W. Camp number 78, Sulmona, postal mark number 3300, 1945 held at Stalag 11B, Fallingbostel, German POW No.138808

Stanley was reported as no longer a POW on the 9th of June 1945, as Fallingbostel was the first POW camp to be liberated on 17th April 1945.

Awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the London Gazette 11th October 1945. Not certain what his M.M. was for though I have been told he was an escaper. If he was an escaper he must have been recaptured but unfortunately his POW report which would have no doubt been used as a citation hasn't survived which is a shame. His MM could have been for repeated escape attempts or service at Tobruk.

Stanley emigrated to New Zealand after the War and it is thought he was in New Zealand before the War as well.

This is all covered in the files.

Code: 50543