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.

Reunited - Royal Warwickshire Regiment Medals - William Bailey

These medals were reunited in one evening!

This story I still believe is fate...

I had a 'feeling' about a single BWM medal whilst browsing a dealers site  - 'William Bailey' , Royal Warwickshire Regiment - so bought it. Later the same evening I saw his 15 star on another dealer that was based in south of the UK (The BWM had come from Northumberland)

When I spoke to the dealer who was selling the 15 star he was surprised and pleased by my story of the reunite - the 15 star had come from a collection that had recently come to the market that, to his knowledge, had been locked away for at least 25 years!

Sadly, no papers exist for William so we were unable to trace where he may have lived (His MIC card does exist however, showing his entitlement to a 15 trio and shows service with the Labour Corps)

The two medals were court mounted for display and also to ensure they are never parted again!