Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Warrant Officer Class II R. W. W. Fell, Devonshire Regiment, who during the Second World War held the appointment of Garrison Sergeant Major, Freetown, West Africa

Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (5614454 W.O. Cl. 2. R. W. W. Fell. Devon R.) mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (3) £60-£80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Reginald William Ward Fell (known as ‘Cushy Fell’ within the regiment) was born at Wyke Regis, Weymouth, in 1908. A Domestic Servant by occupation, he attested for the Devonshire Regiment on 5 November 1925. Posted to the 1st Battalion at Blackdown he embarked with his battalion at Southampton on 28 January 1927 bound for Hong Kong and then Shanghai to form part of the Shanghai Defence Force. Leaving Shanghai on 10 September 1927 the battalion’s next posting was to Malta before embarking for India arriving at Karachi on 17 October 1929 for onward transportation to Quetta. Posted next to the 2nd Battalion in England in March 1933 before being transferred to the Depot at Exeter 20 September 1933, various home postings then followed before a tour of duty in 1938 as Draft Conducting N.C.O. for a voyage to India and back via Malta. Posted again to the Depot before being appointed Acting Sergeant at the Infantry Training Centre on 21 October 1939, there followed further home postings. Appointed Acting Company Sergeant Major on 25 October 1941 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion Sierra Leone Regiment, Royal West Africa Frontier Force, on 24 February 1942. Posted next to Area HQ Garrison Office, Freetown, he assumed the appointment of Garrison Sergeant Major at Freetown on 21 January 1944. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in July 1944, he returned to the UK on 28 January 1945 taking up various home duties before being posted for duty with the Polish Resettlement Corps on 25 September 1946. Finally released to the Reserve on 25 February 1948, after 22 years and 112 days’ service, in civilian life he was employed as a Prison Officer at the Borstal Institution, Portland where he died from a heart attack on 20 January 1964 aged 55.

Sold with copied service records confirming medal entitlement and other research.