SAS Italian Job: Lieutenant’s Medals Sold For A Whopping £10,000

Medals and forged documents belonging to a Lieutenant who took part in the real-life ‘Italian Job’ have been sold for a whopping £10,000 at auction.

Lieutenant James Riccomini MBE’s wartime bravery saw him escape Nazi capture, seeking refuge in the Alps after his cover was blown in Italy.

His actions, likened to a Hollywood script, included daring raids deep behind enemy lines and fleeing his captives by jumping from a moving train.

In 1941, Lt Riccomini was serving in Egypt with the Royal Army Service Corps, when he was captured by the Nazi’s and sent to the Gavi prisoner of war camp.

While on the train to the Austrian camp in 1943, he and 15 other men carved a 2ft hole into the back wall of the train and proceeded to jump to freedom.

Tragically Lt Riccomini was killed in action during Operation Tombola, aka the ‘SAS Italian Job’, the aim of which was to harass retreating enemy forces in March, 1945.

His MBE, Military Cross, 1939-45 Star, African Star, Italy Star and the 1939-45 War medal were all sold for an astounding £9,800 during an auction in Tunbridge Wells, Kent on Tuesday.

Letters Lt Riccomini penned to his wife while escaping to Switzerland give an insight into his life on the run.

He wrote: "On September 19 last year I was lucky enough to escape from the Germans and since that time I have been hiding and running, always finding wonderful friends among the Italian people.

"Today another chap and I are starting out for Switzerland. We hope to be there in two or three days time.

"Sorry darling that I cannot write more, but this note has to be hidden securely.

"My love to all at home Janey I'm hoping to see you before long & remember that I love you."

His fluent Italian meant he could pass for a local when showing his ID card.

Matthew Tredwen, a valuer and military specialist, likened Lt Riccomin's daring antics to that of those on the silver screen:

"It is the heroic nature of keeping the stories of those brave men and women alive that is what a lot of collectors do it for. They want to keep those stories going for future generations."

His Military Cross citation states: "He was a personal source of inspiration and encouragement to his men.

"His conduct could not have been excelled in any way being far above the normal call of duty."

Lt Riccomini was one of 50 other commandos who were dropped back into Nazi-occupied Italy, strangely to the sound of bagpipes.

Scottish volunteer, David “Mad Piper” Kirkpatrick’s bagpipe melodies played a vital role in deceiving Nazis that only British forces were attacking.

In actual fact, a coalition was fighting, including Italian freedom fighters.

At the time, Nazis stemmed insurrections by killing ten local civilians for each Nazi soldier killed in an attack on their base.

So, the “Mad Piper” bagpipe ploy meant that hundreds of lives were saved as and the Nazis were none-the-wiser.

Mr Kirkpatrick was still revered as a hero in Italy when he died in 2016 at the age of 91.

Cover picture courtesy of SWNS/C&T Auctions.