{"product_id":"103-field-bakery-royal-army-service-corps-ww2-british-medal-group-a-c-c-from-didcot","title":"103 Field Bakery, Royal Army Service Corps WW2 British Medal Group A.C.C. from Didcot","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWW2 British Medal Group of 5 - Private Richard Noel Skinner, 103 Field Bakery, Royal Army Service Corps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1939-45 Star\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfrica Star with 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Army clasp\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrance \u0026amp; Germany Star\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDefence Medal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWar Medal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAll unnamed as issued.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePrivate Richard Noel Skinner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArmy Catering Corps attd. R.A.S.C.\u003cbr\u003eService No. \u003cb\u003e13029601\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRichard Noel Skinner was born on \u003cb\u003e1 February 1914\u003c\/b\u003e and lived at \u003cb\u003e19 Mereland Road, Didcot, Berkshire\u003c\/b\u003e. In civilian life he was employed as a \u003cb\u003ebaker and confectioner\u003c\/b\u003e, a skilled trade that would later directly inform his military role during the Second World War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe enlisted into the British Army on \u003cb\u003e6 June 1940\u003c\/b\u003e, joining the \u003cb\u003eArmy Catering Corps\u003c\/b\u003e. During his wartime service he was attached to the \u003cb\u003e103 Field Bakery, Royal Army Service Corps\u003c\/b\u003e, a specialist unit responsible for the large-scale production of bread and baked goods to sustain frontline and rear-area troops. Field bakeries were an essential but often overlooked component of army logistics, operating close behind the fighting units and frequently under demanding operational conditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSkinner’s medal entitlement reflects overseas service in multiple theatres. His award of the \u003cb\u003eAfrica Star with ‘1st Army’ clasp\u003c\/b\u003e confirms service with the British First Army during the North African campaign, while the \u003cb\u003eFrance \u0026amp; Germany Star\u003c\/b\u003e indicates participation in the final stages of the war in North-West Europe following the Allied advance from 1944 into Germany. These awards, together with the \u003cb\u003e1939–45 Star\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eDefence Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eWar Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, reflect sustained wartime service from the early years of the conflict through to its conclusion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing the end of hostilities, Skinner remained in military service for several years. He was ultimately \u003cb\u003edischarged from the Army Catering Corps on 26 February 1953\u003c\/b\u003e, having completed \u003cb\u003e5 years and 319 days with the Colours\u003c\/b\u003e, followed by \u003cb\u003e6 years and 281 days in the Army Reserve\u003c\/b\u003e, bringing his total period of obligation to well over a decade.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe group is accompanied by a \u003cb\u003elarge quantity of original paperwork\u003c\/b\u003e, providing further documentary context to his service and post-war military career (\u003cb\u003esee images\u003c\/b\u003e). Together, the medals and paperwork document the wartime and extended post-war service of a skilled tradesman whose role was vital to the operational effectiveness of the British Army during the Second World War.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53352566620506,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251219_125223.png?v=1768648810","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/103-field-bakery-royal-army-service-corps-ww2-british-medal-group-a-c-c-from-didcot","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}