Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major F. H. Chaplin, 154th (Hampshire) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died of heart failure ‘by his guns’ at Ypres on 27 May 1916

British War and Victory Medals (Major F. H. Chaplin.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major F. H. Chaplin. R.A.); Memorial Plaque (Frederick Hardess Chaplin); Memorial Scroll ‘Major Frederick Hardess Chaplin, Royal Garrison Artillery’, all contained in a contemporary leather covered hinged and glazed display case, nearly extremely fine (4) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups.

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Dix Noonan Webb, September 2004.

One of only 27 Territorial Force War Medals awarded to R.G.A. Officers.

Frederick Hardess Chaplin was born in London on 12 January 1873. He was educated at Tyttenhanger Lodge, near St Albans, and Charterhouse. He obtained a commission in the Hampshire Garrison Artillery (T.F.) and went to South Africa in 1901 with the Wemyss’ Horse; however, he was invalided home after severe enteritis and has not been traced in the medal rolls for the South African War. He was an electrical engineer by trade, and was Borough Electrical Engineer to Southampton Corporation.

Chaplin was appointed Adjutant to the Hampshire Garrison Artillery on 22 March 1909. He subsequently raised a Heavy Battery, which he commanded for eight years. He served during the Great War in Command of the 154th (Hampshire) Heavy Battery, R.G.A., on the Western Front, from 29 April 1916, and died ‘by his guns’ at Ypres on 27 May 1916, of heart failure, aged 43. He is buried at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. He is listed in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1919, which includes a photographic likeness.

Sold with Buckingham Palace enclosure for the Memorial Plaque; and copied research.