Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (6) (Major D. A. Strachan; Major. O. H. d’A. Steward; Capt. J. M. Hemsley.; Lieut. G. P. Nunan; Lieut. C. S. Hedgeland; Lieut. A. C. Scott) generally very fine (6) £140-£180

David Allan Strachan served during the Great War initially as a Major with 45 Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery, before transferring to the Staff. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 7 July 1919).

Oliver Henry d’Alteyrac Steward was born in Kingston, Surrey on 23 October 1878 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1902; he served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 April 1915. He is listed in the 1939 England and Wales Register as living in Fulham with the occupation ‘King’s Foreign Service Messenger’.

James Mortimer Hemsley was born near Haywards Heath, Sussex in 1885 and attested for the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 19 June 1899 aged just 14 years and five months, having already served in the Sussex Artillery Militia. He served at home until 29 October 1910 and then was posted to India. He was appointed acting Bombardier in August 1902 and came home again on December 17 of that year. He returned to India on 6 December 1904, was promoted to Bombardier on 1 June 1906 and to Corporal in May 1907. He was re-engaged at Meerut to complete 21 years’ service on 10 July 1910; however, he was discharged on 31 January 1913 at his own request having served 13 years and 227 days.
Following the outbreak of the Great War, and evidently whilst still in India, he re-enlisted, this time with the North Western Railway Volunteer Rifles, going with them as a Sergeant to East Africa on 14 October 1914. He was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery and was attached to the Derjat Mountain Battery of the Indian Mountain Artillery when he died aged 32 on 28 July 1917; records indicate he died at sea. He is buried at the Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery.

George Philip Nunan attested for the Royal Fusiliers and served with them as a Lance Corporal during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 January 1915. He was promoted to Sergeant with the 28th Company Army Cyclist Corps and commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 15 November 1916. He later transferred to the Indian Army. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 8 July 1919).

Charles Samuel Hedgeland, of Wandsworth Common, London served as a Lieutenant with the 33rd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps during the Great War on the Western Front and was killed in action on 17 April 1918.