Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Twelve: Lance Corporal H. Purkins, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was one of the longest serving soldiers in the regiment and a noted regimental personality

British War and Victory Medals, both neatly erased; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (5374454 Pte. H. Purkins. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (5374454 Pte. H. Purkins. Oxf. & Bucks.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (5374454 Pte. H. Purkins. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) nearly very fine and better (12) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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H. ‘Polly’ Purkins: A Private Herbert Purkins served in the Great War with 1/7th Middlesex Regiment as Private No. 9684, transferring to 1/9th Highland Light Infantry as Private. No. 334003, and lastly with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as Private No. 49884, and is possibly the same man, entitled to the British War and Victory Medals.

Purkins was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in July 1943, and served with the 2nd Battalion O.B.L.I. in Normandy, being wounded on 8 August 1944.

The regimental journal in December 1945 states: ‘A Celebrity. L/Cpl. Perkins [sic], who in his own way is one of the regiment’s celebrities, had quite a long talk with the General [General Sir Bernard Paget]. L/Cpl Perkin’s arm is a study in stripes; one for his appointment, six ‘upside down’ stripes for long service (they reach up to his elbow) and two wound stripes, one for World War One (second battle of Ypres) and the other for World War Two (Normandy). He is 46. When it came to the point of doing an air-landing he wouldn’t be left behind, so went in with the rest of them although he was twice their average age. L/Cpl. Perkins [sic] joined up in 1915 and has been with his present regiment since 1919. He went to India in 1922 and was there until 1940 with never a leave. When this war finished he volunteered to go to Japan. When his time comes for demobilisation he is going to do his best to stay in the army.’

Sold with copied research.