WW2 & GSM Palestine Group to Johns Highland Light Infantry.

A beautiful large WW2 group comprising of the 1939/45 star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France & Germany star, Defence medal, 1939/45 War medal and George VI General Service medal with Palestine bar correctly named to 3311824 Corporal Christopher Johns of the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry.
Christopher Johns was born in Swansea on 2 July 1917. An Errand Boy by occupation he enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry on 17 October 1936. With the regiment, he served in India, March-November 1938; Palestine, November 1938-November 1939; Egypt – Italy November 1939-August 1943, and N.W. Europe, June-July 1944. Johns was reported ‘missing’ in the Western Desert of Egypt on 28 June 1942 but was reported to being ‘not now missing’ on 7 August. Whilst serving in Egypt he suffered with malaria. In N.W. Europe on 11 July 1944, he was seriously wounded in the left arm - which eventually resulted in a 10% disability pension. Returning home, his last posting was as a Substantive Corporal attached to the Military Prison and Detention Barracks, Aldershot. Johns was transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1946 and Class ‘Z’ Reserve in October.
The 2nd Battalion moved to Egypt early in the war and saw action at the Battle of Keren in March 1941. It then transferred to the Western Desert and, as part of the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 5th Indian Infantry Division, saw combat at the Battle of Knightsbridge in June 1942 and the Battle of Fuka in July 1942. It took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and, after a period in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece, took part in the advance into Northern Italy. At the end of 1943 they returned home and joined the 1st battalion for operation Market Garden and the liberation of Holland later that year. It went on to serve throughout the remainder of the North-West Europe campaign.
A very interesting group to a man who saw a lot of intense action during the second world war, in need of a lot more research to highlight his incredible service.
All medals are in excellent condition and mounted in a glazed framed. I have had the back open and checked all of these medals and all are original with replacement ribbons. They come with various copied research including a copy of his original medal award index cards for all WW2 campaign starts and the General Service medal with bar.
The General Service medal was sold through DNW in 2006.

Code: 28049