Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Royal Regiment of Artillery

Awarded on:

July 15th, 1941

Awarded for achievements in the field.
May 22nd, 1940, at Calais, Sgt. Barson’s unit was ordered to surrender to the Germans. May 26th, Arthur Barson succeeded in escaping from his captors. He tried to flee via Boulogne but found out that the city had already been captured by the Germans. After having provided himself with civilian clothes, he tried to escape by boat three weeks later but was captured again on June 17th. June 20th, 1940, on his way to Dunkirque by truck, he succeeded in escaping again. He found temporary shelter in Lumbres. After having been in hiding for four months, he left by truck for the demarcationline at Moulin where he boarded a train in Barsay, traveling via Vichy, Clermont-Ferrand and Sète to Perpignan. From there he tried to get away to Spain but was caught and imprisoned in Argèles. He was released Janary 1st, 1941 and left for Marseilles. Janauary 4th, he reported to hospital, saying that he had lost his eyesight. Subsequently, on February 24th , he was repatriated along with 16 others.