Description:

'LOST BATTALION' RED CROSS NEWSLETTER
'The Lost Battalion' of the Pacific was the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, 36th Infantry Div. (Texas National Guard). 534 members of the battalion, the only American ground force on the island, were captured by the Japanese on Java in March 1942. It is called the 'Lost Battalion' because the fate of the men was unknown to the United States until September 1944. Most of the men were sent to Thailand to work on the Burma Railway, the building of which is portrayed in the film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. Of the total of 902 soldiers and sailors surviving the sinking of the USS Houston taken captive, 163 died in captivity. Offered here is a copy of 'The Red Cross News', 14pp. 4to., Sep. 1, 1943 sent to Col. Albert C. Searle, a prisoner and commander of the 131st Field Artillery. At the bottom of the first page, he has written: 'Received Camp #4 Taiwan March, 1944'. The paper contains news from individual states, sports, and general interest stories. From the estate of Col. ALBERT C. SEARLE, the senior regular Army officer commanding the battalion who he refused to leave the men of the 131st behind, despite initial orders to the contrary. He was taken prisoner with the remnants of his command.

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April 6, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000