| Surname: | Armstrong |
| Initials: | R N |
| Rank: | Sergeant |
| Army Number: | 406689 |
| Notes: | CMP. Formerly Cavalry of the Line (Dragoons), transferred to CMP. Casualty List 504, Middle East, Cyrenaica listed as missing, 31/3/1941. Casualty List 600, Cyrenaica, now POW previously reported Missing on List 504. Casualty List 721, Cyrenaica, previously reported POW now not POW. Discharged to Commission. London Gazette 37041, page 2089, 20/4/45. General List. The undermentioned to be 2/Lt's: 17/1/45. 406689 WOII Robert Nixon Armstrong (345002) from CMP. Robert Nixon Armstrong. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Military Medal (London Gazette: 35499 Page: 1372 March 26, 1942) |
| Citation: | Military Medal Citation. Escape and evasion North AfricaSgt. ARMSTRONG escaped from the P/W cage at BERKA BARRACKS near BENGASI on 4th December at 1900hrs, with L/Cpl CAIRD, 2/Camerons and Dvr. MURRAY. Escape was prepared by cutting the wire on the 3rd - all except the last two strands - making final getaway during the changing of the guard on the 4th. The three had made several individual attempts to escape previously, Sgt. ARMSTRONG getting as far as MECHILI on one occasion. They had also prepared an escape jointly by digging a hole through the wall. They were betrayed thought and the German military police came in, found the hole and, after a search, all their stores of food. They had saved up 5 tins of sardines, some tongue, a small quantity of rice and macaroni, one Italian loaf, 2 tins of cheese and 5 water bottles. When they escaped eventually, they walked right through the barracks, waited for the moon to come up and started off S.W. of BENINA, walking past REGIMA towards TEONIS. On the 12.12.41 they met an Arab between MARAUA and SLONTA, who was a great help to them and guided them on their journey were finally picked up by troops of the 7th Armd. Division south of BOMBA at 1400 hours on the 16/12/41. Half-way on their journey they had a most tremendous stroke of luck in finding a miniature ration store containing bully beef and other food stuffs, obviously left by us in our retreat. This happened when their food was practically exhausted. During the whole of the journey they themselves saw no signs of movement and no new tracks, but the Arabs informed them that guns and armoured cars were going westward towards BENGHASI. While at BENGHASI the men worked in food stores, docks, etc. They were detailed every day for different jobs. On the 27th November, ARMSTRONG worked in the docks at unloading a sinking ship. When they left conditions were chaotic. They had been shut up for 5 days, no work had been done and Germans and Italians obviously did not know what to do with their prisoners. It was due to great courage and unflagging determination that this N.C.O. was able successfully to excape with his two companions in the face of many hardships and handicaps. They were also observant on their journey and brought back useful information.Awarded an immediate Military MedalRecommended by Brigadier J Shearer D.M.I.Citation ref WO 373/61 |
| Decoration: | General Service Medal 1918 (London Gazette: Medal Roll WO 100/509 Page: 260 Jan. 24, 1940) |
| Citation: | Clasp: Palestine, 1936- 1939. |
Prisoner of War Record: | |
| Imprisonment: | Benghazi LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA 🇱🇾 |