Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

The Gordon Highlanders

Awarded on:

May 12th, 1942

Citation:
"Private Mumme was captured on the 12th June, 1940, about five miles from St. Valery-en-Caux, and after one day at St. Valery, was marched off together with other prisoners who had been assembled there. He had been wounded in the arm, but received no medical treatment until Doullens was reached on about the 25th June. On the afternoon of the 29th June, Private Mumme escaped near the village of Fournes, on the main La Basse-Lille road. After hiding in a farm he went to the farm house and was given civilian clothes, food and a bed for the night. Next morning he walked to Carnin, where he had friends, and stayed with them for several days. He left on a bout the 6th July, and after receiving help at several villages, reached Ardres, where he found shelter in the summer house of a Lille familiy. After searching the coast near Dunkirk for a boat he returned to Lille but was arrested and sent to a camp at Eecloo, Belgium, where he was interrogated by German officers. After refusing to reply to their questions, he was put in a punishment cell, and was kept there for three or four days without food. The day he was released from solitary confinement he put on a Belgiam greatcoat and cap and walked out of the camp with a Belgian working party which was going to a farm. After dark he and three Belgians broke away and hid in a wood. Obtaining a bicycle Private Mumme rode to the French frontier, where he gave himself up to a French Customs official, who gave him money. He then returned to Lille by train where he stayed with friends, assisting them in their efforts to help British soldiers, until March 1941, when he left with a young Belgian for Abbeville. From there he went by train to Perpignan, but he was arrested by the French police and sent to the military prison at Montpellier. He escaped on the 13th September with a warder, who wanted to come to this country. They stayed at Argeles until the 7th October, when they were taken by a guide into the mountain as far as the Spanish frontier at La Tour de la Massane. With the aid of a compass and map they reached Areenys le Mar, about 20 miles north of Barcelona, on the 15th October, but were arrested while sleeping in a hut on the beach, and marched to the local prison. At the door of the prison they atempted to escape, but only Private Mumm escaped the shots that were fired. After marching for a day he jumped on a truck which was shunted into a goods yard near Barcelona, where he gave himself up to the station-master. He was handed over to a subordinate who, after taking him to his home, went with him to the Consulate. After siv days in Barcelona, Private Mumme left for Madrid wher he stayed at the Embassy until 10th December, and the Left for Gibraltar."

LG 35556/2072