Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, 78th Infantry Division, Eastern Task Force

Awarded on:

March 1st, 1945

Citation:
"Colthorpe was captured near TUNIS on 15 Apr 43 and was sent via CAPUA to MACERATA (Camp 53).
In spite of the Senior Brittish Officer's orders to the contrary, Colthorpe left the camp on 15 Sep 43. He reached CASTEL DI SANGRO but was captured as he was crossing the lines.
Entrained for GERMANY on 7 Nov 43, COLTHORPE and another P/W escaped by getting through a ventilator grid and jumped from the moving train near RIETI.
Again they tried to cross the lines; at ROCCAVIVI owing to the dearth of ffod and th deep snow they turned back. For two months they stayed at RICETO before the presence of Germans in the village made them move to CASTEL NUOVA. When the Gernans were retreating they travelled to POLI to report to Allied forces on 6 Jun 44."