29322: Pte John H. Naylor, Yorks & Lancs Regiment.

29322: Pte John H. Naylor, Yorks & Lancs Regiment.

This BWM is probably one of the oldest pieces in my collection and was bought with pocket money over 25 years ago! As such, it holds many memories for me and partly got me into medal collecting all that time ago.

It was awarded to a John Naylor of the York and Lancs Regiment for his service during the Great War. John was also entitled to the Victory medal – it’s whereabouts are unknown…

His MIC shows nothing that helps us research John in any way – Sadly no service records survive either. It gives no clues as to where John saw action, either by date or theatre. All we do know is that his war service started after 1916; hence only the entitlement to the BWM and Victory.

Do you have any information about John, or the location of his missing Victory medal?

171208: Pte Felix McCabe, The Labour Corps.

171208: Pte Felix McCabe, The Labour Corps.

I have always had respect for the Labour Corps, who until very recently, have received very little credit for their services during the Great War. Formed in 1916, the Labour Corps were battalions strong, offering support to both Line Regiment and Corps alike.  Their ranks consisted of older men, skilled tradesmen, wounded soldiers assigned to so called ‘lighter duties’, conscientious objectors, and in some cases, convicts serving with penal battalions.  Their tasks varied considerably, from repairing roads under shellfire, helping dig support trenches under fire, helping the supply lines with the Army Service Corps and in a lot of cases, taking on vast burial duties after major offensives.

You will often see Labour Corps service mentioned as second service to men who had originally served in line regiments; this was usually the result of an injury that may have seen them unfit for frontline duty. However, medals actually named to the Labour Corps have become something of a rarity in recent years; the BWM in many cases, being scrapped for their silver content from the 1970’s onwards.

Felix McCabe is one such soldier. His MIC states his entitlement to the BWM and Victory pair only; in this case both medals would be actually named to ‘Lab Corps’ indicating he would have been an original entrant into the corps.

Sadly, no service records exist for Felix to enable us to open up his story; was he an older man (too old in military terms to serve with a line regiment?) It seems unlikely we will ever know for sure.

41363: Pte Walter Bridgens, Royal Berkshire Regiment.

41363: Pte Walter Bridgens, Royal Berkshire Regiment.

This single victory medal came into my possession through a British Medal Forum member who knew I collected to my local area. This medal had been in his collection for a long time, and when moving some of his collection on realised that Walter enlisted in Stourbridge, then in Worcestershire. (Only 2 men show up at that time on the census, one being far too old to have served)

Although no service records have survived (apart from his MIC) it is almost certainly the same Walter Bridgens who enlisted for war service and was assigned to the Royal Berkshire regiment. Walter is entitled to the BWM and Victory medal pair, so his service overseas would have been after 1916. His MIC does not state the theatre of war he first served in so we cannot be certain where he saw action, although the Royal Berkshires saw a great deal of action in France and Flanders.

His MIC also states service with the Labour Corps under number: 485402. Was Walter wounded resulting in lighter duties with the Labour Corps? Has anyone seen his BWM? If so – Please get in touch!

T2-13649: Farrier David F. Brookham, Army Service Corps.

T2-13649: Farrier David F. Brookham, Army Service Corps.

I enjoy the diversity of Army Service Corps medals. They are relatively inexpensive and offer the collector a number of prefixes - all denoting various areas of service and trades. The Army Service Corps, like the Labour Corps, have often been overlooked by collectors, and as such, generally do not command high prices.  To someone on a budget, building a collection of single ASC medals is a real possibility with great future investment, not to mention a huge amount of research possibilities.

This single 1915 start was awarded to David F. Brookham who served from 1^st November 1915 with the ASC in Egypt. We can see this from his MIC (One of the faintest I have ever seen!) It shows his full entitlement as the 1915 trio. The ‘T2’ prefix at the start of his service number denotes he served with the transport section within the newly formed ‘2^nd Armies’

His rank is given as ‘Farrier’ – an unusual rank and a trade of the utmost importance keeping the thousands of Horses shod thus making the task of supply possible. It is widely argued that without the countless horses and mules mobilized into the British and Commonwealth armies that victory would not have been possible.  Although probably true, I think it’s important to remember all the animal casualties, often overlooked and arguably, the real innocent victims of war.

Do you know the whereabouts of David’s BWM and Victory?

7586: Pte Arthur E. Buckett, The North Staffordshire Regiment.

7586: Pte Arthur E. Buckett, The North Staffordshire Regiment.

This single Victory medal was a Christmas gift to me from my Mother and Father-in-law a few years back and it still wears its original silk ribbon. I love these orphaned medals – so much research and investment potential whilst still keeping someone’s service alive. Victory medals in particular make a great collecting theme for those on a limited budget.

Arthur Buckett entered the theatre of war listed on his MIC as ‘2B’ - The Balkans, on 20^th November 1915. He was entitled to the 1915 trio, this single victory medal being all I have of Arthur’s war service.

None of Arthur’s service records have survived unfortunately and it’s only by his MIC that we can see some small part of his story. He certainly did his fair share of moving around, his MIC showing service after the North Staffs in both the Welsh Regiment (No: 49920) and later in The Nott’s and Derby Regiment (No: 63597)

We cannot be certain where Arthur was born, grew up, or indeed where he lived, but we know he appears to have come through the war without any serious injury (No mention of a SWB on the MIC)

He is shown as being Class Z (Demobilized) on 11^th March 1919. At present the location on Arthur’s BWM and 15 star are unknown – Can you help locate them?

34981: Pre William Tilley, 91st Company, Machine Gun Corps.

34981: Pre William Tilley, 91^st Company, Machine Gun Corps.

William Tilley grew up in the small Black Country town of Great Bridge, close to Tipton in the West Midlands. He is entitled to the BWM and Victory pair, along with the MM, which he won in 1918, serving with the 91^st Company of the Machine Gun Corps. He is mentioned in the London Gazette of the 4^th February 1918. There is every chance William actually won his MM in the last few months of 1917 (Possibly for actions at Passchendaele) as the gazette entries could be announced around 3 months after the actual award.

As no service papers exist for William it is difficult to say how he won his award. The MIC gives no clues, along with no theatre of war mentioned. His Military Medal card simply shows ‘France’. I have been approached by a collector in the past regarding William’s MM group, as it is something of a mystery. Apparently the 91^St were not in France at the time of the award, thus is this a mistake on the MM card or a mistake on the medal?

Wherever he won it, it is clear he was proud, as the MM has seen more polishing than the other two medals in the group (He would have not received his BWM and Victory until around 1921, some three years after the war ended)

William’s medals have been court mounted for display and to keep them together and safe.

If you have any information on the 91^st Company of the Machine Gun Corps, please share!

65431: Pte George Burmall, Devon Regiment. A sad story

65431: Pte George Burmall, Devon Regiment.

This BWM medal taught me a lesson. It has a sad story; not only that  George lost his life during WW1, but that I used to own both his BWM and Victory pair. I moved them on a long time ago in a part exchange deal, only to find a few years later that it had been separated and was on sale on an online action site. The seller had no idea of the whereabouts of the victory and stated that the BWM had come in with a number on broken pairs and trios…

Needless to say, I purchased the BWM and live in hope that one day I will find his Victory. I never move on complete groups now, especially those with relatively little resale value, unless they are going to specific collectors or family members.

No service papers survive for George, but his MIC clearly states a busy war service. After serving with the Devon’s, George served with The Hampshire Regiment under number: 38974, and finally with The Royal Sussex Regiment, under number: G/31529. His full entitlement is the BWM and Victory pair, showing service after 1916, and it appears that George made it through without any serious injuries, as there is no mention of a SWB on his MIC.

 If you know the whereabouts of his victory, please shout!

74975: Driver William Bowen, Royal Field Artillery.

74975: Driver William Bowen, Royal Field Artillery.

I came by this medal in a small antique shop in the town of Bridgenorth in Shropshire. It’s suspension is lightly loose and being artillery, was in real danger of being scrapped at that time. It still wears the incorrect ribbon it came with (From the victory medal) and nothing was known about ‘Dvr. W. Bowen’ other than a compulsion to keep it safe for future generations…

William Bowen was a true ‘Old Contemptible’ (The name given to Britain’s relatively small force by Kaiser Wilhelm at the outbreak of WW1)

Although no service records have survived, William has two MICs listed. One for his 1914 star entitlement; his name incorrectly given as ‘Bower’, and the other showing correction to ‘Bowen’ (It also refers to the prior mistake: ‘See BOWER. W’)

His 1914 card states his entry into war as the 16^th August 1914 and that he served with 43^rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Both MIC cards also reveal that William was a holder of the ‘Mons Clasp’ – a small bronze clasp that those who had served under the range of enemy artillery between August 14 and November 1914, were entitled to wear on their 14 star; The date given for the issue of the clasp is given as 20^th December 1920.

William’s rank as ‘Driver’ was equal to that of a private in a line regiment, but his job was somewhat different. It entailed the control of at least two horses; either pulling field guns or supplies up and down to the front.

Often, ‘Drivers’ would work in teams of 3, controlling six horses. Casualty rates amongst Drivers were proportionally higher than those of Gunners, and as such, daily pay rates were greater. It’s also worth mentioning that awards of the Military Medal to artillery personnel were far greater to the rank of Driver than any other rank within the RA.

The whereabouts of William’s 1914 star/Mons Clasp and Victory are unknown at present.

16368: Pte Lamech Jordan, 3td Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment

16368: Pte Lamech Jordan, 3td Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment

This group of medals was saved, again from an online auction site, from being split up. Thanks to numerous emails sent from British Medal Forum members to the seller, the group was relisted together; this is where I stepped in. I purchased Lamech’s medals as he lived very close to me and is possibly one of the most ‘local’ groups I am now the custodian of.

Lamech Jordan was born in around 1890 in Brockmoor, Staffordshire (This now is part of Brierley Hill, only a few miles from Dudley in the West Midlands)

He is shown on the 1911 Census as being 21 years old and living at 1, Campbell Street, Brockmoor; his occupation being given as a ‘General Engineer’, his household number is given as ‘171’.

At that time, the census shows the household being quite full (by today’s standards!) The following are listed as also living at the same residence:

·      William Jordan (61 years)

·      Mary Ann Jordan (59 years)

·      George Henry Jordan (24 years)

·      Lamech Jordan (21 years)

·      Ernest Wilfred Jordan (17 years)

·      Ethel Lenora Jordan (15 years)

·      Clarence Jordan (12 years)

·      Joseph William Jordan (12 years)

·      Henry William Dodd (35 years)

·      Mary Ann Eliza Dodd (31 years)

·      George William Dodd (4 years)

·      Doris Mary Dodd (10 – 12 years)

Lamech joined the Worcester Regiment at the outbreak of the war and was called up quite early to serve; his MIC showing entry into France on 19^th December 1914. It shows him being assigned the service number ‘16368’ and his entitlement to the 1914-15 trio. This is not, however, the only thing the MIC states. Sadly, the statement ‘’KinA’ appears under the remarks column.

Lamech is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, as being killed in action on 9^th June 1915 whilst serving with the 3^rd Battalion of the Worcester Regiment.  He has no known grave; his name etched onto Panel 34 of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium. He is listed as being from the ‘Round Oak’ area (This was once the location of the ‘Round Oaks’ Steelworks that closed during the early 1980’s; a huge employer of the local population for many years)

It is only right that Lamech’s medals and memorial plaque stay together and it is my intention to have the group court mounted to ensure a split does not happen again. I do not think the group has travelled far during it’s life – I purchased it from a seller in the West Bromwich area. Does anyone have any extra information about Lamech? If so, we would love to hear from you….

4613/202049: Pte John Wilfred Hipkiss (1/7th, 2/7th, 2/8th & 2nd Battalions) The Worcestershire Regiment.

4613/202049:  Pte John Wilfred Hipkiss (1/7^th, 2/7^th, 2/8^th & 2^nd Battalions) The Worcestershire Regiment.

At present, little is known about John Wilfred Hipkiss. His MIC showing no specific theatre of war, the fact he was issued 2 service numbers during his time with the Worcester’s  (4613 & 202049) and that he was entitled to the BWM and Victory medal pair (This proves his entry into the war early into 1916) The roll of the BWM and Victory pair reveals he served in a number of battalions; 1/7th, 2/7th,  2/8^th and finally the 2^nd battalion.

What the MIC does not state (and this is not unusual) is that John was awarded the Military Medal. He is mentioned in the London Gazette of the 14^th May 1919, so nearly five months after the end of the Great War. His Military Medal card only states that the award was won with the 2^nd Battalion for actions in France. It is with his later service number (202049) that John won the MM.

There are sadly no general records that now exist for John’s service (i.e. service papers online) but there is a slight possibility that he may be mentioned within the Worcester Regiment archives or battalion war diaries – This is something not yet done. It is likely that John was awarded the MM for either late actions in 1918 (During the last stages of the German offensive ‘Operation Michael’) or as a general award for good continuous service, above and beyond, during his time with the Worcester’s.

His London Gazette entry states him as being from ‘Netherton’, this is a small (at that time) industrial village, nestling some 2 miles out of Dudley in the West Midlands.

Early research shows him being from a Canal workers family (This is a common trade for the area at that time; Netherton being attached to the large network of canals that helped found the Midlands as a major industrial centre)

The medals were court mounted, as the original ribbons were long gone, sadly the victory is an erased replacement. The location of this is unknown – Has anyone seen it?

Two brothers who served together in The Royal Warwickshire Regiment

My great grandfather, Thomas Weston, at present is somewhat of a mystery. We know beyond doubt that he served during WW1 but with which regiment we cannot be sure. However, we do know that Thomas's brothers William Henry and Richard Hiram enlisted in The Royal Warwickshire regiment at the outbreak of world war 1. 

William Henry Weston was born on the 4th March 1885 in Tipton Road, Rowley Regis. On the 1911 census he is shown as being from a family of iron galvanising workers, typical of the area. His brother, Richard Hiram, born later on the 7th June 1894 in Dudley Port, Tipton, were both sons of Thomas Weston and Louisa Deakin. 

There is an old family story which unusually shows both brothers serving together in the same battalion. William Henry enlisted in Birmingham with The Royal Warwicks, 1st Battalion and assigned the regimental number 9798. His brother Richard, also 1st battalion, serving under number 1897. Both brothers war ended on the same day, 26th August 1914. Richard Hiram, whilst attacking German positions, saw his brother fall and when trying to get to him (an offence often punishable by firing squad) was shot down through the shoulder and invalided out of the army. His MIC states he was issued a silver wound badge number L\868. Sadly William Henry's remains were never found. 

William Henry is now commentated on the 'La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre' memorial in France, along with over 3700 British and Irish soldiers who fell in battle in this area during August, September and early October 1914. The memorial is often referred to as the memorial to the 'Missing of the Marne'

Richard Hiram later married and moved to Essex where he died on the 12th December 1968. It appears he had spent the majority of his working life as a taxi driver. Both brothers were entitled to the 1914 trio (with mons clasp), the whereabouts of either group is unknown, but any leads would be gratefully received.

Richard Hiram

John Henry Dives Costeker - Royal Warwickshire Regiment

John Henry Dives Costeker was born 28th March 1879 in London. He entered the Army 3rd August 1898, as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment., in which he was promoted Lieutenant 3rd February 1900. He served in the South African War, 1901-02 and was present during operations in Cape Colony. He was mentioned in despatches and received the Queen's medal with five clasps.He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, (London Gazette 28 Jan 1902);"John Henry Dives Costeker, Lieut., The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. For the capture of Commandant Kolde 11 Nov, 1901"

He was invested by the King 12 Nov. 1902. He was promoted Captain 3 June 1903; was Adjutant of the Royal Warwickshire Regt. 27 June 1904, to 11 april 1907; became Garrison Adjutant., Eastern Command, 1 June 1907; Staff Captain, Irish command, 1914.

He was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 25th April 1915, whilst serving as Brigade Major, 88th Infantry Brigade.

His grave was visited by the Prince of Wales on the 24th April 2005 during the Prince's visit to Gallipoli to mark the 90th Anniversary. 

Help reuniting medals

One of the saddest things in medal collecting is when medal groups get split up. The reasons for this can be endless, but more often or not it is due to them being left to different family members during their lifetime, or being sold for the silver scrap value.

Most of our medals have been bought with a hope of saving them from being scrapped and an even bigger hope that one day we can reunite them with the rest of their group. It is so important that these medals that were awarded to such brave people stay together for future generations and to preserve as many memories as they can.

We will be sharing some of the stories of reunited groups that we have with you over the coming months, but we would love to hear your stories of medals you have reunited with each other, or even better with the families they came from.

Please get in touch if you would like to share your stories, or if you would like us to tweet any requests to our followers for missing medals. Every bit helps and if we can help reunite just one group we will be making a difference.