The inspiring legacy of a Salford hero murdered by the Nazis

Alfie Mulligan
·3-min read
-Credit: (Image: Richard Winterton Auctioneers)
-Credit: (Image: Richard Winterton Auctioneers)


Medals of an SAS soldier who was murdered by the Nazi’s during a daring mission are going up for auction next month. The medals of Corporal Kenneth Bateman, which are estimated to sell for around £1,000, are set to go on auction on July 10.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Corporal Bateman’s death. The Salford-born SAS soldier was part of the B Squadron of the Special Air Services, a group of elite soldiers working with French Resistance fighters tasked with disrupting the movement of German troops.

Cpl Bateman, 24, parachuted into occupied France hours before the D-Day Landings, part of Operation Bulbasket, which was swathed in secrecy for years after the year.

Both he and his comrade, fellow NCO sergeant Eccles, were on a sabotage operation to blow up points in the marshalling yard at Saint Benoît before they were captured by German soldiers on June 28, 1944. A further 28 SAS soldiers were attacked and captured on July 3, joining both Cpl Bateman and Sgt Eccles in a German prison before all 30 were executed by firing squad as dictated by the Kommandobefehl.

READ MORE: Salford mayor demands 'urgent' action to reopen city's birth unit

The Salford-born soldier was awarded six medals that included the France and Germany Star, 1939-1945 Star, 1939-1945 War Medal, Defence Medal, The Africa Star and The Italy Star, which are all set to go to auction.

The medals will come with two photos of Cpl Bateman, original ephemera, newspaper cuttings and correspondence with the War Office in the 1940s and the Ministry of Defence in the 2000s.

The medals come with ephemera, correspondence with the War Office in the 1940s and the Ministry of Defence in the 2000s and a book about Operation Bulbasket in which Cpl Bateman is mentioned numerous times.
The medals come with ephemera, correspondence with the War Office in the 1940s and the Ministry of Defence in the 2000s and a book about Operation Bulbasket in which Cpl Bateman is mentioned numerous times.

Jeff Clark, militaria specialist with Richard Winterton Auctioneers, spoke about the importance of the Cpl Bateman’s squadron.

“This elite unit of 55 soldiers successfully managed to sabotage the railway lines many times and was tasked with preventing fuel supplies reaching the 2nd Panzer Division.

“They managed to obtain the whereabouts of a large supply of fuel that was due to arrive where the RAF managed to destroy that supply.”

His body, alongside his comrades, was discovered by hunters in December 1944, with dental records enabling most of the soldiers to be named before being reburied in Rom Communal Cemetery.

Born in Salford, Bateman became the foster son of Charles and Jane Seddon of Swinton before joining the SAS in 1943. And it not until 2003 that he received his medals after his inspired niece made the application for them to the Ministry of Defence.

After she passed away last year her daughter, Cpl Bateman’s great-niece ,who asked not to be named said: “Mum dug into the story and found out what happened. She applied for the medals from the Government and had them framed.”

The 66-year-old added: “Mum always wanted to visit his grave in France but sadly never made it over there.”

With Cpl Bateman’s great-niece in a period of ill health, she decided to put the collection to auction: “We are now not in the best of health and would sooner the medals go to someone who will appreciate them.”

The sale of the items will take place at The Tamworth Auction Rooms in Church Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, starting at 9:30am, and will also include the auction of stamps and vintage toys.

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