{"product_id":"royal-artillery-ww2-british-medal-group-8th-army-north-africa-italy-petersfield","title":"Royal Artillery WW2 British Medal Group 8th Army North Africa Italy Petersfield","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSecond World War Medal Group – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eLance Bombardier George Budden, Royal Artillery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\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\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1939–45 Star – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfrica Star, 8th Army clasp – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eItaly Star – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDefence Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWar Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eTerritorial Efficiency Medal - \u003cb\u003e2051942 GNR. G. BUDDEN. R.A.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMounted as worn in the incorrect order.\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\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eGeorge Budden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e14 April 1915 in Portsmouth, Hampshire\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eEdwin Budden and Nellie (née Harnden)\u003c\/b\u003e. By the late 1930s he was living in \u003cb\u003ePetersfield, Hampshire\u003c\/b\u003e, where he appears in local civilian records prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. A \u003cb\u003epre-war local newspaper report\u003c\/b\u003e records Budden as a \u003cb\u003ecivilian witness\u003c\/b\u003e in a court case involving soldiers stationed in Petersfield. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eDuring the Second World War he served with the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Artillery\u003c\/b\u003e, attaining the rank of \u003cb\u003eLance Bombardier\u003c\/b\u003e, and was administered through \u003cb\u003eR.A. Woolwich\u003c\/b\u003e. His campaign medal entitlement confirms overseas service, including qualification for the \u003cb\u003e1939–45 Star\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eAfrica Star (8\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Army)\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eItaly Star\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eDefence Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eWar Medal\u003c\/b\u003e, indicating service across multiple operational theatres.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThe \u003cb\u003eBritish Eighth Army\u003c\/b\u003e was one of the most famous field armies of the Second World War, formed in \u003cb\u003eSeptember 1941\u003c\/b\u003e and operating primarily in the \u003cb\u003eMiddle East, North Africa and Italy\u003c\/b\u003e. It became synonymous with the desert war against Axis forces, fighting a series of hard-fought campaigns across Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The army’s victory at the \u003cb\u003eSecond Battle of El Alamein\u003c\/b\u003e in October–November 1942 marked a decisive turning point in the North African campaign and is widely regarded as one of the most important British victories of the war. Following the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Eighth Army formations spearheaded the Allied invasion of \u003cb\u003eSicily\u003c\/b\u003e in 1943 before advancing up the \u003cb\u003eItalian mainland\u003c\/b\u003e, facing determined resistance, difficult terrain and severe weather. Throughout these campaigns, the Eighth Army relied heavily on its artillery arm, with Royal Artillery units playing a central role in both defensive and offensive operations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eIn addition to his wartime awards, Budden was also granted the \u003cb\u003eEfficiency Medal (Territorial)\u003c\/b\u003e, officially awarded in \u003cb\u003e1946\u003c\/b\u003e, reflecting sustained and satisfactory service beyond the end of hostilities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eFollowing the war, George Budden returned to civilian life in Hampshire. He married \u003cb\u003eFlorence O. E. Staff\u003c\/b\u003e in \u003cb\u003e1947\u003c\/b\u003e and remained in the Petersfield area for the rest of his life. He died in \u003cb\u003e1999\u003c\/b\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e84\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\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":53137772708186,"sku":null,"price":145.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251126_125204.png?v=1766067800","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-artillery-ww2-british-medal-group-8th-army-north-africa-italy-petersfield","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}