Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘Warrant Officer’s’ M.C. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class I S. F. Seekins, 13th Hussars

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (5674. Sq.S.Mjr. S. Seeking. 13th. Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (5674 W.O. Cl.1 S. Seeking. 13-Hrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (H-46186 S.Mjr. S. Seekins. 13/Hrs.) mounted as worn; with the recipient’s Corps of Commissionaires Medal, unnamed as issued, heavy contact marks and pitting from star, nearly very fine or better (6) £1800-2200

M.C. London Gazette 7 February 1918:
‘For distinguished service rendered in connection with military operations in Mesopotamia.’

Sydney Frederick Seekins was born in Wortley, Leeds, on 24 May 1883, and attested for the 4th Hussars at Leeds on 24 November 1900. He transferred to the 13th Hussars on 10 June 1903, and was promoted Corporal on 13 October 1903; Sergeant on 17 January 1907; and Squadron Sergeant Major on 6 November 1912.

Seekins was with the 13th Hussars at Meerut, India, when War was declared on 4 August 1914. They were part of the Meerut Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Indian Cavalry Division, and sailed from Bombay on 19 November 1914, landing at Marseilles on 15 December 1914. Seekins served with them in France from that date, and was promoted Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class I) on 19 March 1916. In July 1916 the Regiment left for Mesopotamia, landing at Basra in August 1916. For his services in Mesopotamia he was awarded the Military Cross, the only M.C. awarded to a Warrant Officer of the 13th Hussars for the entire Great War, and one of only 18 ‘Warrant Officer’s’ M.C.s awarded to Cavalrymen.

Following the cessation of hostilities Seekins was awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 338 of September 1919, before taking his discharge on 23 November 1921, after 21 years’ service. In civilian life he joined the Corps of Commissionaires, and in 1934 was one of the Yorkshire representatives at the parade in London to mark the 75th Anniversary of the foundation of the Corps. Following the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Home Guard and was employed first as a Platoon Officer, before being commissioned Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment, and then serving as Adjutant and Quartermaster of the 40th West Riding Home Guard Battalion, with the rank of acting Captain, from 9 April 1941. He transferred to the unemployed list in May 1942, and the following month was appointed Chief Billeting Officer in the Borough of Batley. He died in July 1943, and is buried in Batley Cemetery.

Sold with a 13th/18th Hussars metal tobacco tin, the top inscribed ‘From Robert Baden Powell 1876-1926’; the recipient's two card identity tags; the recipient’s Military Identity Card; Aldershot Command Athletic Association Life Member’s Badge, silver and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘R.S.M. S. F. Seekins M.C. 13th Hussars’; the recipient’s City of Leeds and West Riding of Yorkshire Driver’s Licences; Certificate of Discharge and Certificate of Character on Discharge; various typed reports from his service during the Second World War; a large quantity of original photographs and postcards, including one of the recipient being presented to H.M. Queen Mary; various dinner menus and Christmas cards; and other ephemera.