Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. group of six awarded to Major W. Tupper, Royal Garrison Artillery

Military Medal, G.V.R. 36693 Bmbr., 81/Sge. By. R.G.A.); 1914-15 Star (36693 Gnr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed, mounted court style for display, good fine and better (5) £300-350

M.M. London Gazette 10 August 1916.

William Tupper was born at Sciddells, near Westbourne, on 23 April 1890. He enlisted into the Artillery in August 1911 and in 1914 was serving in Ceylon. As a Gunner in the R.G.A. (’R.F.A.’ on his star) he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 5 March 1915. Serving with the 81st Siege Battery R.G.A. he was awarded the Military Medal. The battery history records that he was awarded the medal for maintaining lines under fire at Ablain St. Nazaire. He was wounded on the Somme on 13 July 1916. Commissioned on 1 May 1918, he served with the 394th Siege Battery in Palestine, seeing action at the battle of Sharon. He retired as a Lieutenant in 1920. During the Second World War he performed a number of extra-Regimental tasks, including commanding a P.O.W. camp. Appointed a War Substantive Captain in August 1939 and Temporary Major in February 1942. He retired once more in 1945. In civil life he was a Builder and later worked as a civilian for the Royal Navy. Major Tupper died at Horndean in February 1971. With newspaper cuttings re. his death and obituary, a small photograph of the recipient and copied research.