1914 STAR TRIO WITH CLASP & GSM IRAQ, NW PERSIA TO OLD CONTEMPTIBLE + RECORDS

Description: This is a 'Buy it Now' for a rather unusal 1914 Star Trio with clasp and General Service Medal with Iraq and SW Persia Clasps, that come with an interesting story and some good documents. The medals were awarded to an Old Contemptible who intitally joined The Queen's Regiment in 1910 as a Territorial, serving for three years with 5th battalion before being discharge in 1913. The next day he signed-on for regular service with the Royal Field Artillery, and the following year he has a nice early date of entry into the Theatre in France with the BEF in 1914. He was then discharged and awarded a SWB in 1915, but quite remarkably rejoins the Royal Field Artillery again in June 1917 and later serves with them in Iraq and NW Persia. The medals are mounted in a card display and all have correct impressed naming as follows: 1914 Star and clasp named to: 75159 GNR: A.F. MATTHEWS. R.F.A. British War Medal named to: 75159 GNR. A.F. MATTHEWS. R.A. British War Medal named to: 75159 GNR. A.F. MATTHEWS. R.A. General Service Medal with Iraq and NW Persia Clasps named to: 75159 GNR. A.F. MATTHEWS. R.A. All medals confirmed on rolls and Medal Index Card. Alfred Frank Matthews was born in the second quarter of 1893 at Farnham in Surrey, the son of Mary Ann and James Matthews, an Agricultural Labourer. He was then baptised at the Parish Church at Hale in Surrey on 25 June 1893. In the 1901 Census the family are living in Guildford, and in the 1911 Census they are still in Guildford with Alfred noted as a 17 year old Cask Washer in a Brewery. On 14 February 1910, Alfred signed-on at Guildford for four years service as a Territorial, serving with D Company, 5th Battalion, Queen's Regiment, service number 1163. He is recorded as attending all the annual training until 10 August 1913, when he was discharged on 12 November 1913 with a note stating he was joining the Royal Artillery in Guldford. The very next day on 13 November 1913, Alfred attests for service with the regular army in Guildford, signing on for a 12 (6+6) year engagement with the Colours. He elected to serve with the Royal Horse and Field Artillery, service number 75159, and with his age is given as 20 and his occupation is now noted as a Labourer. He initially served in the UK with No 3 Depot, R.F.A., then on 3 February 1914 he was transferrerd to 115th Battery, R.F.A. On 16 August 1914, Arthur first enters the Theatre of War in France with BEF, serving with 115th Battery, 25th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, which were attached to 3 Brigade of the BEF under the command of Brigadier-General H.J.S. Langdon, which in turn were part of I Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig. The battery distinguished themseleves during the Retreat from Mons and Alfred also took part in the Battles of the Marne and Aisne with them, although on 7 October 1914 he was returned to the UK sick, with his medical records noting he had Colitis. On his return to the UK he was transferred to 20th Reserve Battery, then on 5th May 1915 he was discharged at Woolwich and awarded a Silver War Badge number 11874 (this is missing)), with his reason for discharge being he was no longer phyiscally fit for war service. The details in Alfred's service papers then come to an end, however, on 4 June 1917 he is listed in the 2nd Regimental Recruiting Area Book for Guildford, where is noted as rejoining the Royal Field Artillery with his place of birth given as Farnham and his age given as 24, but also with him passing his medical. In the second quarter of 1919, Alfred is recorded as getting married to Ellen Strudwick in Guildford. He is then later recorded as serving with the Royal Field Artillery in the Iraq and NW Persia campaigns, with his medal and both clasps confirmed on the roll. He is still using his old service number and his new RFA number of 1040284 is also noted on the roll, with this new number and his GSM and clasps also confirmed on his Medal Index Card (see photos 3 & 5). In the 1939 National Register, Alfred and Ellen are listed as living at New Barn Cottages in Guildford, with his occupation noted as a Builder's Labourer. Alfred Frank Matthews is then recorded as dying in Surrey N.E. in the last quarter of 1945, he was aged 53. The medals are in good VF condition or better and come mounted on some card with the correct ribbons attached. Each medal is connected with a small piece of wire around the suspenders to hold them in place, except the Star. The Mons clasp being an original issue. Military documents supplied included 14 copy pages of his service and discharge papers as a Territorial with the Queen's Regiment, and also his service papers with the Royal Field Artillery. His entry in the 1917 Recruitment Book for his rejoining at Guildford is also included. Then we have his Medal Index Card, the 1914 Star, BWM, VM and the GSM medal rolls confirming, as well as his entry in the SWB rolls. Civil documents include his Birth Registration and baptism, the 1901 and 1911 Census and the 1939 National Register. His marriage registration is included, several Electoral Registers giving his addresses and finally his Death Registration. Thirty-five (35) pages in total and we will put all these documents onto a CD for the buyer. More research is certainly needed and possible on the good Mr Matthews, as we've only very briefly scanned over the documents we have for the above information. This Old Contemptible group is also available on our Instagram page: santlache_coins_medals Any questions please by all means send us an email, which can be found below in the Business Seller Information details. UK POSTAGE ONLY - Special Delivery - International Buyers via ebay Global Shipping Programme VISIT OUR EBAY SHOP FOR MORE QUALITY MEDALS AND GROUPS - Click on the Santlache Logo above.

Price: 380 GBP

Location: Leighton Buzzard

End Time: 2025-01-26T20:17:34.000Z

Shipping Cost: 55 GBP