Medals

1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion Manchester Regiment

Gallipoli Casualty Aged 54

WW1 1915 Star Trio, Territorial Efficiency Medal and Death Plaque

 

242 Pte Thomas Fay

Thomas Fay was born in 1860 in Oldbury, Worcestershire. His CWGC record describes him thus: Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Enlisted July, 1880, in the North Staffordshire Regt. (64th), served in Jamaica, British West Indies, 1884 to 1886, also in the South African Campaign.

Note: There is no Thomas Fay on any medal roll under the North Staffs or Manchester Regiment during this period. Nor is there any entry under WO 102-7-9 held in the PRO for 1882 to 1912 for an award of the LSGC medal. I am as sure as I can be, that this description refers to the Territorial Efficiency Medal (which award is confirmed), and that these medals are his full entitlement.

In 1886 Thomas married Lilias Wilson in Salford, Manchester, and by 1911 they were living in Miles Platting, Manchester. Sadly the 1911 Census shows that they had only 2 children from 7 still alive.

The 1/8th were mobilised on the 4th August 1914, entering camp at Littleborough, near Rochdale. From there, they were to embark for Egypt, reaching Alexandria on the 25th September. One can only imagine what these Lancashire Lads thought of the sights and smells of Egypt!

Undertaking mainly Garrison duty for a few months, they were then to move to the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) on the 6th May 1915, landing on W Beach.

Involved in various Battles, skirmishes and sniping with trenches often no more than a few meters apart, the Battalion was withdrawn to Imbros on the 12th June for some much needed rest.

It landed back on V Beach on the 23rd June. Between 24th/25th/26th June the War Diary states that the Battalion suffered 2 wounded on the 24th and 1 killed on the 26th. Pte Thomas died of wounds on the 25th, so one can assume that he was one of those wounded on the 24th whilst in and around the 2nd Australian Line, possibly a sniper or artillery shell. As a 54 year old, Thomas could have stayed at home having already “done his bit”, but sadly payed the ultimate sacrifice.

He is remembered at Lancashire Landing Cemetery.

Medals on long lengths of original ribbons. Also comes with a Manchester Regiment Cap Badge.

Note: His son, also called Thomas, also served from 8th July 1916 serving as 66787 Labour Corps.

Emotive group.

Copy MIC, Medal Rolls, Census, Newspaper notification of death, Pension Cards,

Price:  Reduced to £550

Royal Navy – KIA 1940
WW1 Distinguished Service Medal, 1915 Star Trio & RN LSGC Group – Siege Guns 1917

237371 Petty Officer Henry Frederick Augustus Shelton

Provenance: Captain K J Douglas-Morris Collection

Distinguished Service Medal (GVR): 237371 H F A Shelton, Lg Sea, RN Siege Guns Flanders 1917.
1915 Star: 237231 H F A Shelton LS RN
Pair: 237231 H F A Shelton LS RN
RN LSGC (GVR) 2nd issue: 237231 H F A Shelton PO HMS Curacoa.

Henry Frederick Augustus Shelton was born in Portsmouth in April 1891 and enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class on the 24th September 1906. He served in a variety of ships and shore establishments throughout WW1 until being posted to Siege Guns from 16th August 1916 until 22nd October 1917 (being promoted to Leading Seaman in March 1917).
At this time the Heavy Shore Batteries consisted of four 9.2” and two 6” guns mounted in concrete casemates. The French had no equivalent guns that could counter-battery the German’s long-range naval guns, and were thus the target of enemies attention on an almost daily basis. As many as 40 or 50 hits a day were recorded on the gun pits, and it only due to the thickness of the sand placed on top of the casemates that prevented them being destroyed. The German targeting was helped by their advantage of aerial superiority at the time (early 1917).
In May & June 1917 Eight 7.5” guns were added to support the operations around the Yser Canal.
To give some perspective of the amount of fire they received, from a compliment of 8 Officers and 150 men, 3 Officers were Killed, 3 Injured and over 50% of the men were casualties. They also had to content with long-range Mustard Shell attacks.
Shelton was awarded his LSGC in 1925, named to HMS Curacao.
He was shore pentioned in April 1931, but was recalled in May 1933, where he served on HMS Effingham and HMS Hawkins (Heavy Cruisers).
He transferred to HMS Foxglove on the 30th August 1939. Foxglove was an Acacia class minesweeper, built in 1915.
She was involved with the evacuation of troops from France in June 1940 as part of Operation Aerial.
On the 9th July 1940, whilst operating off the Isle of Wight she was dive bombed by German Stukas, during which PO Shelton was killed. A newspaper article covers the action:

Portsmouth News – Saturday 16th February 2013
by Bob Hind
“Battered but not beaten – Foxglove defied the bombers”
If you were walking along Southsea seafront on the afternoon of July 9, 1940, you might have heard a commotion out to sea and looked towards the Nab Tower. On the horizon, the funnels of minesweeping trawlers appeared escorted by HMS Foxglove, a Portsmouth-based minesweeping sloop. The ship’s company was tired. They had been working non-stop off the beaches of Dunkirk.
Foxglove was the oldest serving ship in the Royal Navy – 25 years. Almost every one of the men was believed to be a Portsmouth rating. As she headed around the eastern tip of the Isle of Wight, the look-outs could see people strolling along Southsea seafront.
Suddenly, with the ship so close to home there was an urgent shout: ‘Aircraft on the starboard beam.’ Foxglove’s commander, Captain Bell, spotted a single yellow plane. At first he thought it was a Fleet Air Arm trainer. Then Bell saw black crosses on the wings. He gave the order to open fire. There were now eight attackers with three JU87 dive bombers aiming their bombs directly at Foxglove. ‘For Christ’s sake fire,’ ordered Captain Bell to his machine gunner. ‘Can’t sir,’ the gunner replied, ‘gun will not bear.’
Captain Bell was hit by shrapnel. In his report he said: ‘Blood poured down my cheek which was rather cooling and brought me to my senses.
‘The ship quivered and shook as four explosions shook her, tearing out her entrails. I could feel a list and had the uneasy feeling the ship was about to sink.’ Captain Bell saw blood seeping from his gunner’s thigh. He seized the gun but found the man was right – he could not bring it to bear. He wrote: ‘If I had had a rifle I could have shot the pilot easily.’ Flames burned amidships. In the wheelhouse Bell found five motionless men who gradually came round. ‘Shall we abandon ship?’ asked one. Bell said he wanted to get the wounded off first.
The yeoman in the wheelhouse had been killed and the ship was motionless. The roar of escaping steam was fading and above the low crackling of flames a sweet voice could be heard. ‘Somewhere over the rainbow…’ A wireless had survived. It was the voice of Judy Garland. Captain Bell entered the wrecked wireless office. At the telegraph key the young operator lay slumped, killed as he sent a report. Another telegraphist was still able to work and Bell ordered him to get a message through for a tug. But it was hopeless. ‘Aerials are gone and the gear is smashed sir,’ he replied. As Bell left the office he met a chief petty officer. He was dirty, oil-spattered and looked grim. ‘Any chance of getting us on the move chief?’ asked Bell. ‘Not a hope sir. The main steam pipe has gone. The number two boiler room and engine room are finished. There’s no power, the ship is holed and taking in water fast.’
Bell replied: ‘I think the old girl will float for a while longer chief, but we seem to have overdone it this time, eh?’
Reaching the quarterdeck Bell was cheered to see some of his company standing. All were wounded but stood at their posts by machine guns. The trawler Avalanche arrived from Portsmouth Harbour. The walking wounded were ordered to take doors off their hinges to use as stretchers.
Taken in tow at last, Foxglove slowly moved towards the harbour and Bell looked across from the bridge to see familiar hotels, the piers and the Common. When she arrived alongside more of her company were dead than alive, 20 men died that day. HMS Foxglove later served as harbour guardship at Londonderry and was scrapped in 1946.
PO Shelton is buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Portsmouth.

Copy: Service papers, LSGC award, Newspaper article with Obituary, CWGC, excerpts from “The Dover Patrol” detailing the Siege Guns in 1917

Contact Marks and polished, mounted on a Spinks Bar. Would also be entitled to the 1939-45 Star and WW2 War Medal.

Price: £1995

1st Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Brigade / MGC
WW1 BWM & Victory Pair

Grey was born in 1896 in Southwark. Posted to France 1st June 1915 he transferred at some point to the 99th Company Machine Gun Corps (as 71196). Both units formed part of 99th Brigade, 33rd Division.
He was still serving after the War as he died whilst in service with the KRRC on the 3rd April 1920 and is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.
Note: His MIC states that his 1915 Star was returned under KR 1743, and then deleted, so the Pair is his extant full entitlement.
Copy: detailed research
Price: £65

Kershaw Family Group:


BWM & Victory Medal Pair and Commemorative Plaque
61st Battalion Machine Gun Corps (“B” Company”)
34866 Driver Robert Kershaw

Killed in Action on the 8th August 1918, aged 25. The son of Abraham and Elizabeth Kershaw of Royton near Oldham.
With copy of MIC, Medal Roll, CWGC and Rochdale Observer from 24th August 1918 with a small obituary.

1915 Star Trio
4th Battalion KRRC
R/11071 Private Fred Kershaw

Entered France 28th July 1915.
With copy MIC and Medal Roll

1915 Star Trio
9th Royal Lancs Regiment
13719 Pte Edward Kershaw

Entered France 4th September 1915
With copy MIC and Medal Roll

All with original silk ribbons.

I have done a bit of digging around in the Census records and I am certain that Edward and Robert are brothers and Fred Kershaw is their Uncle (the younger brother, by 15 years, of Abraham Kershaw (their Father). Copy of relevant census records will be included.

Very nice family group

Price: £450

10th Kings Royal Rifle Corps – Casualty
1915 Star Trio and Commemorative Plaque


R/13545 Rifleman Robert Hulme

Robert Hulme was born in 1891 in Newton, Hyde, Cheshire, the son of Joseph and Jamima Hulme. His occupation was a Labourer at Planter’s Works, Godley. He married Harriett Sutcliffe and lived in Burkitt Street, Godley, Hyde.

He was posted to France on the 4th November 1915.
The 10th Battalion KRRC was posted to the Hebuterne Sector of the Somme in July / August of 1916, as part of the 20th (Light) Division) in support of the Somme attacks around Serre. It was here on the 6th August, that Pte Hulme was sadly killed by a splinter from a rifle grenade whilst he was digging a trench.
An article appears in the Manchester Evening News, dated Thursday 17th August 1916, giving details of his death.
There is also a write up on the Hyde War Memorial Trust website which also includes a photo of him in civilian clothes.

Copy: MIC, Medal Roll, CWGC, SDGW, 1911 Census, Newspaper entry, Copy Photo
Price: Reduced to £275

Royal Navy – Deserter
AGS 1902-56 “Somaliland 1908-10”
NGS 1915-62 “Persian Gulf 1909-1914”
1915 Star Trio
Served on HMS Hyacinth

238107 Able Seaman James Henry Whitmore

James Whitmore was born 12th April 1891 in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, and entered the Training Ship Exmouth aged 15. This was a form of Children’s home and was managed by the Metropolitan Asylums Board for children from poor families, and had around 500 boys on board. His family must have fallen on hard times as himself, his Mother and sister are shown in the Hyde Workhouse rolls for March 31st 1901. He spent nearly 3 years here, before he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1909 (interestingly giving his trade as TS Exmouth).
He spent time on various ships, but it was whilst he was on the Cruiser HMS Hyacinth he was awarded both the AGS and NGS.
During the Somalialand Campaign she supplied men for the storming party that captured the fort at Illig and her 6″ guns supporting the attack.
He was serving on the Light Cruiser HMS Penelope between February 1915 and May 1916 that she was hit and damaged by a Torpedo from the German Submarine UB-29 off the Norfolk coast.
It appears Whitmore wasn’t a model Sailor and spent various spells in the ships brig:
14 Days Cells – HMS Forward (Dec 1911 – Feb 1912)
28 Days Detention – HMS Tyne (Aug 1913 – Oct 1914)
7 Days Cells – HMS Pembroke (Nov 1914 – Jan 1915)

Finally he is shown as “Run” 4th February 1919. A note on his service papers states “Apprehended by Civil Police. Busted on suspicion of being an Absentee. Police requested to communicate with CO HMP Liberty”. He was recovered and sentenced to 30 days detention for Desertion. (I can only assume he received such a light sentence because the War was over).

He was finally discharged from Service on the 13th August 1921, giving his address as 24 Ruskin Road, Congleton, Cheshire.

He appears on the the 1939 Register as living with his Wife, Hannah, at No.1 Belgrave Avenue, Congleton and giving his trade as a Camouflage Painter.

Copy: Service Papers, Census, Medals Rolls for AGS, NGS & Trio, 1939 Register

Superb group of medals, with a fascinating story.

Price: Reduced to £645

Silver War Badge
14th Liverpool Regiment

Awarded to 41537 L/Cpl Sidney Smith
Born in 1893, he lived in Moston, Manchester
He was discharged on the 24th August 1918 due to wounds – Shrapnel to Forearm 70% disability, aged 24.
Entitled to BWM & Victory Pair
Copy MIC, Pension Card, SWB Roll
Price: £28

East Lancashire Regiment / Labour Corps
Died due to TB
Victory Medal


Awarded to 33131 Pte William Henry Jones
Also served as 476206 Labour Corps

William Jones was born in Peterchurch, Herefordshire in 1897, and enlisted on the 19th October 1914. It appears from his pension records that he spent the time from his enlistment to 14th October 1917 in the 68th Welsh Division, Army Service Corps, in the UK – including 67 days in Cambridge Military Hospital with Syphilis!!.

He was eventually posted to France, but then seems to have been passed around between Regiments for a while – 18th West Yorkshire Regiment, 2/8th Lancashire Fusiliers, then more time in hospital until eventually ending up at the 13th (Garrison) Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. He was finally discharged due to sickness on the 27th December 1918, as physically unfit, with “Tuberculosis of the Lung” and sadly passing away on the 16th May 1919, aged only 22.

Note although his MIC states Labour Corps, I can’t find any evidence of him serving in this unit, only the Army Service Corps.

Buried MUCH BIRCH (SS. MARY AND THOMAS BECKET) Churchyard, Herefordshire

Copy MIC, Medal Roll, Pension Records, SWB list.
Price: £25