THE bravery and service in the second world war of two men from Tavistock will be remembered when a collection of medals and memorabilia come up for sale at an auction at Roborough on Tuesday.

Included will be two medals awarded to John Merrifield Doidge, who earned the British Empire Medal for 'conspicuously good service prior to and during evacuation of Singapore' and a civilian long service medal.

Along with John's medal will be those of his brother George Merrifield Doidge, who fought with the Devon Regiment, and later in the 14th Army in Burma and India. His Burma Star, three other military service medals and his distinctive army bush hat will be auctioned. The 14th Army, known by veterans as 'The Forgotten Army' were involved in particularly ferocious fighting in terrible jungle conditions.

Liz Vose, a partner of auctioneers Eldred's, set the scene to the background of John's BEM. She said: 'On December 8, 1941, the same day as they attacked Pearl Harbour, the Japanese invaded Malaya and worked their way towards Singapore.

'Mr Doidge was working as store houseman in a naval base facing the mainland, which came under fire.

'He volunteered, with a handful of others, to transport essential supplies and personnel off the naval base, across the island to the town of Singapore, under fire, which he did for 14 days until it was impossible to get back to the stores.'

The Battle of Singapore was fought when the Japanese invaded the major British military base in Southeast Asia — the fighting in Singapore lasted from February 8 to 15, 1942. It resulted in the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history — 80,000 British, Indian and Australian troops became prisoners of war, joining 50,000 taken by the Japanese in the Malayan Campaign.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called the ignominious fall of Singapore to the Japanese the 'worst disaster' and 'largest capitulation' in British history.

Fortunately John Doidge was able to escape to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) before Singapore fell; he was presented his BEM in Columbo by Sir Geoffrey Layton, commander-in-chief.

Liz added: 'To be sold with the BEM is the Imperial Service medal and two letters Mr Doidge wrote home, just after the evacuation, describing his experience.

'In particular, he describes being in one of the holds on top of 600 tons of ammunition when two bombs were dropped 300 yards away from him, and then driving to the base and back at night, under fire and shelling, on the night the Japanese landed on the island.'

The owner of the collection, George's son Bill Doidge, who lives in Plymouth, said that the brothers are the great grandsons of William Merrifield, the well known 19th century Tavistock photographer and librarian in Tavistock.

Bill, who is retired and lives in Plymouth, told the Times said he was only selling the collection because there was no one in the family to pass them onto.

He said: 'It was only after my uncle's death, as executor of his will, that I found all this about him.

'Just like my father he never really spoke much about his experiences. I am very proud that they both my father and uncle were the sort of people who served as they did.'

George Merrifield Doidge died in 1988 while John Merrifield, who lived on Kilworthy Hill, Tavistock, died in 2009.

As for his dad's bush hat, that he wore fighting the Japanese in the jungles, Bill fondly remembers his dad finding a great use it for many years: 'Dad found it the ideal shape, with it folded on one side, to use for the painting and decorating!'

Valuers expect the BEM alone to attract bids between £200 and £300.

Eldreds sale of collectors and sporting items is at 1, Belliver Way, Roborough, on Tuesday, February 28 at 11am.

Viewing is on Saturday between 9am and noon and on Monday, 9am to 7pm and the morning of the sale from 9am.

The catalogue for the sale will be online in the week before the sale at http://www.eldreds.net">www.eldreds.net