WW2 Popski’s Private Army Casualty Medal Group of Three – Driver (Private) W.S. Gaskell, R.A.S.C.

A second world war Popski’s Private Army casualty medal group awarded to T/129275 Driver William Sylvester Gaskell, Royal Army Service Corps. 

1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Africa Star (Clasp – 8th Army) unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 

Comes with late issue condolence slip , inscribed in print to T/129275 Dvr. William Sylvester GASKELL – RASC

Killed In Action – 10th September 1943

Together with the photocopy extracts from Private Army by Vladimir Penniakoff in which Gaskell is mentioned three times.

Gaskell was the gunner in the jeep with Lieutenant McGillavray who sailed on minelayer HMS Abdiel to Bizerta, 10th September 1943.

From Private Army:
  “My heart was heavy with sad news: early on the tenth HMS Abdiel had foundered in a few minutes after striking a mine in the outer harbour; there were few survivors of the crew or of the troops on board, and neither McGillavray nor Gaskell was amongst them – our first death casualties in P.P.A…”

Driver William Sylvester Gaskell was 27 years when killed, he is commemorated on the Brookwood Memorial, Surrey.

The medals are mounted for wear, presumably by a family member to wear at Armistice Parades.