12/05/2026
An extensive collection of World War II related ephemera, mainly being personal correspondence concerning the war, capture, escape from a Prisoner of War camp in Italy, and subsequent death of Lieutenant James Allgood, MC (1910-1943).
James was the only son of Edith Allgood and Rev. Roland Frederick Allgood of Ingram Rectory, Northumberland. He was educated at Charterhouse school in the mid-1920s and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, before becoming a land agent. Allgood joined the Army before the outbreak of war and served with 72 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, service No.88190, and was mentioned in despatches in France in 1940.
By 1942, Allgood was in North Africa as the Allies struggled to gain control of the eastern Mediterranean.
He was recommended for the Military Cross for his part in taking the Martuba Airfield with the following announcement:
"This officer displayed extreme courage and devotion to duty. On the 21st March 1942, he was acting as Command Post Officer to the Battery firing on the Martuba aerodrome and, as such, was the target of enemy heavy counter-battery fire and incessant dive-bombing and machine gun attacks. He displayed a complete disregard for his own safety, carrying on with his work just the same as if it had been a peacetime Artillery practice. He was quite undaunted and, during the very few lulls in these air attacks, continued to engage the enemy. Later on Lieutenant Allgood was wounded, and although unable to stand, continued to give directions for the better control of his battery fire.”
Read the full article using the link below:
https://www.lskauctioncentre.co.uk/news-item/lieutenant-james-allgoods-tragic-bid-for-freedom/?pc=29
