Wartime SAS hero’s story is up for sale at auction
The untold story of an SAS war hero who was killed during a legendary Italian Job style raid on enemy headquarters can be told after his medals were put up for auction.
Lt James Riccomini MBE fled Nazi capture when his cover in Italy was blown and sought refuge in the Alps.
The Maidstone-born soldier had served with the Royal Army Service Corps in Egypt when he was snared by the Nazis in 1941 and sent to the Gavi prisoner of war camp.
His life was tragically cut short when he took part in an assault on a German military headquarters in northern Italy during Operation Tombola.
It has been dubbed the “SAS Italian Job” which was carried out in a bid to harass the retreating enemy forces in March, 1945.
Along with around 50 other commandos, Lt Riccomini was dropped back into Nazi-occupied Italy to the sound of bagpipes played by Scottish volunteer David “Mad Piper” Kirkpatrick.
Three SAS men, including Lt Riccomini, were shot and killed during the operation.
Lt Riccomini’s action-packed career documented by diary entries and letters, as well as his medals, are available for £12,000 when they go on sale during an auction in Tunbridge Wells.
Bidders will have the chance to take home a forged Italian identity card given to Lt Riccomini by the Partisans as well as letters and photographs from his time in hiding in Switzerland.
Medals include his MBE engraved with “J.A.R”, a Military Cross, a 1939-1945 War medal and a 1939-1945 star.
In a letter he smuggled out of Italy, Lt Riccomini described the task he faced to avoid being found by the Germans.
He wrote: “On September 19th 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. If we are lucky this will not be sent, but if we fail you will receive this after the war.
“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 and remember that I love you, Your Husband Jim.”
The auction will be held at The Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, in Tunbridge Wells, on Tuesday, October 17.