Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private E. H. Attwood, Grenadier Guards, wounded in action, 20 July 1918 - he survived the sinking of the Hospital Ship Warilda on 3 August 1918

British War and Victory Medals (29574 Pte., G. Gds.) good very fine (lot) £500-600

Edward Henry Attwood attested for the Grenadier Guards on 23 August 1916, aged 17 years, 364 days. He was the son of Mrs Enoch Attwood, of 39 Meadow Cottage, Old Park, Dawley, Shropshire. Serving in France during 1918, he was wounded in action on 20 July 1918 - gunshot wounds to the left leg and right thigh. After treatment at No. 43 C.C.S. he was earmarked for evacuation to England. Taken to Le Havre he was placed aboard the hospital ship Warilda for evacuation to Southampton. Although fully marked with a white hull and red crosses the ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. Of the 700 wounded 100 crew aboard, 123 were killed in the attack. Attwood records in his diary for 2/3 August, ‘Arrived Le Havre early morning. Torpedoed at 1.30AM when abreast Barfleur Lighthouse, 47 Mile from England by Hun Submarine (Sub. Sunk.) Rescued from H.M.A.T. Warilda by H.M.S. P.39.’ On 4 August he records, ‘Landed in a Red Cross Hospital Cosham worse than any I have ever been in’. Attwood was able to make a full recovery.

In the 1950’s he was living at Parrs Wood, Cwm Lane, Newport, Monmouthshire.

With a quantity of original papers and other items, including: Soldier’s Pay Book; Classification Certificate 1917; 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards Permanent Pass, dated 30 November 1918; Embroidered Christmas Card 1915; Diary 1918 - includes entries concerning his wounding and eventful evacuation to England; Frame - containing a portrait photograph of Attwood; an account of ‘The Wreck of H.M.S. Wrilda (sic)’ and his ‘Ship Label’ listing his name and wounds; another portrait photograph; Protection Certificate; Soldiers Demobilization Account; Papers re transfer to Reserve; Notebook; War Savings Association Pass Book; Buffalo Club, Kimberley, Membership Card, 1931; Driving Licence (3), 1930-31, 1936-37 and 1954-55; South African Driving Licences; sundry uniform badges and insignia; wallet with sundry cards and tickets.