Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (8) (153332 Gnr. A. Allbutt. R.A.; 24269 Sjt. S. T. Atkinson. R.A.; 1135 Dvr. F. Barnes. R.A.; L-11022 Sjt. J.Francis. R.A.; 616309 Gnr. A. H. Holder. R.A.; 68112 Gnr. H. J. Harden. R.A.: 153118 Gnr. P. D. Norgate. R.A. 120165 Gnr. A. E. Rigglesford. R.A.) suspension re-affixed on Barnes’s medal, minor edge bruising and con tat marks, generally nearly very fine or better (8) £120-£160

Sydney Thomas Atkinson attested for the Royal Artillery on 1 September 1914 having previously worked as a clerk in Chester. He quickly progressed through the ranks being promoted to Bombardier in April 1915, Corporal in June 1915 and Sergeant two months later. He spent some time in hospital in Athlone in July 1915 with a severe contusion to his left foot for which he was ‘in no way to blame’ and in September 1915 was placed on a charge for using obscene language in front of an officer and went absent without leave in November 1915, resulting in a severe reprimand and the forfeiture of six days’ pay. He was posted to France on 17 February 1916 with 180th Brigade Royal Field Artillery and was serving in Belgium when he was shot in the arms, legs and abdomen. He died of his wounds on 4 January 1917 and is buried in Loker Cemetery, Belgium.

James Francis attested for the Royal Field Artillery on 24 March 1915 and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 November of that year. He was discharged sick from the 67th Division Ammunition Column on 7 January 1918 and was entitled to the Silver War Badge no. 299494. He succumbed to that sickness on 20 February 1919 and is buried in the Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery, Cheshire.

Henry Holder served with the Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial Force) during the Great War and was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 28 September 1917).

Henry John Harden, of Seaford, Sussex, attested for the Royal Field Artillery and served with the 57 Brigade R.F.A. during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914 (entitled to the 1914 Star). He was killed in action whilst with the 380th Battery, 158th Brigade R.F.A. on 23 March 1918 during the Spring Offensive. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

Percy Douglas Norgate, of Alresford, Hampshire, attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery and served with the 233rd Siege Battery during the Great War on the Western Front. He died on 10 August 1918, and is buried in the Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery, France.

Albert Ernest Rigglesford, of Bexhill, Sussex, attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery on 2 February 1916 and served overseas from September 1917. He was transferred to Class ‘Z’ reserve in July 1920. Whilst he survived the war his son, Arthur Presley Rigglesford was not to survive the next one - he was killed in action whilst serving in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Hood during her battle with the Bismarck on 24 May 1941.