Five: Serjeant Drummer J. Townend, West Riding Regiment / Duke of Wellington's Regiment and Wiltshire Regiment

BRITISH WAR MEDAL (7643 Sjt., W. Rid. R.); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908-35 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (7643 Sgt.Dr., 1/Duke of Wellington's Regt.); WAR MEDAL; ARMY L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. 1st type with swivel suspender (3515079 Pte., Wilts. R.); EFFICIENCY MEDAL, Territorial, G.VI.R., 1st type, (Sjt., 7-D.W.R.) very fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall.

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This group was purchased from the recipients daughter in 1975. In a letter included with the lot she gives a brief history of her father’s service, of which the following is a summary:

'He was born in 1888 and at the age of 13 years he and a friend walked from Huddersfield to York and endeavoured to enlist in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. They were told to 'go home and eat some more rice pudding!' Nevertheless one year later Townend enlisted as a Bandboy and before the outbreak of World War One he was sent on service to India where he stayed for some years, his daughter being born in that country. He served on the Indian Frontier during the 1919 campaign and eventually reached the rank of Drum Major early in the 1920's. Towards the end of his regular service he transferred to the Wiltshire Regiment and his L.S.G.C. is named to that Regiment as a Private, the family did not say what caused him to lose his rank! However, on discharge he stayed in the Territorials and regained the rank of Sergeant, serving once again in the D.W.R. When the country was mobilised prior to World War Two, although now fifty-two years of age, he volunteered again and stayed with 'The Duke's' as a storekeeper at Huddersfield Depot throughout the War.'