enemy lines to El Alamein. In October 1942 he joined in the defeat of his German and Italian captors as a stretcher bearer with the 1st South African Infantry Division in the Second Battle of El Alamein. After El Alamein he was transferred to the 6th South African Armoured Division and was gazetted as recipient of the Military Medal (MM) for his actions in Tobruk on 11 March 1943. The award was later bestowed on him by Major-General Francois Henry "Frank" Theron while in Italy with the armoured division. He attained the rank of lance corporal during his service. Awards Military Medal Maseko was decorated with the Military Medal. The citation reads as follows: The King has been graciously pleased to approve the following award in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East: MILITARY MEDAL No N 4448 L/Cpl Job Masego (sic) - Native Military Corps CITATION For meritorious and courageous action in that on or about the 21st July, while a Prisoner of War, he, Job Masego, sank a fully laden enemy steamer - probably an "F" boat - while moored in Tobruk Harbour. This he did by placing a small tin filled with gunpowder in among drums of petrol in the hold, leading a fuse therefrom to the hatch and lighting the fuse upon closing the hatch. In carrying out this deliberately planned action, Job Masego displayed ingenuity, determination and complete disregard of personal safety from punishment by the enemy or from the ensuing explosion which set the vessel alight. War artist Neville Lewis, who painted Maseko's portrait, later claimed that Maseko had been nominated for the Victoria Cross for valour, but a senior military officer had vetoed the recommendation of giving such an honour to a black man, and he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry instead. This unsubstantiated claim was repeated in 2021, to support an unsuccessful petition to the British government asking for Maseko to be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. However, the records at the United Kingdom National Archives tell a different story. They reveal that Maseko had actually been recommended for the British Empire Medal for gallantry, and the citation was upgraded to an immediate award of the Military Medal. Service Medals As with fellow service members, Maseko would have been awarded the following service medals in addition to the Military Medal: 1939–1945 Star Africa Star Italy Star War