Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. Mogford, Monmouthshire Regiment, who was killed in action in May 1915: he had earlier been awarded a Divisional Commendation Card for Bravery

1914-15 Star (1764 Pte., Monmouth. R.); British War Medal 1914-20, naming erased; Victory Medal 1914-19 (1764 Pte., Monmouth. R.), generally very fine or better (3) £40-60

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Monmouthshire Regiment formed by Lt. Col. P. A. Blagojevic, O. St. J., T.D..

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‘Another 2nd Monmouthshire man has also distinguished himself by “conspicuous gallantry in the Field”, [namely] Private John Mogford, the 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mogford of 5 Holyoake Terrace, Pontnewynydd. His parents first read the news in a letter sent home by Private Mogford, in which he enclosed a card, dated 25 April 1915, similar to that received by Private Vernall. At the outbreak of war, Mr. and Mrs. Mogford, on account of their son’s youth, tried to persuade him not to go, but his mind was made up, and he has won honour for his parents and himself. The circumstances under which Private Mogford won the commendation of the Divisional Commander are not known, for with all the modesty of the British soldier he has not informed his parents. On Saturday morning they received a letter from their son dated 29 April 1915, enclosing the card, and stating that he was “All right.” Before the War Private Mogford worked as a collier at the Llanerch Colliery, Abersychan. As before indicated, Private Mogford only enlisted in the 2nd Monmouthshires immediately after the outbreak of the War. On his enlistment he was presented with a Bible by the Merchant Hill Baptist Sunday School’ (The Free Press of Monmouthshire refers).

In a subsequent article reporting his death in action on 8 May 1915, it was stated that his parents had received several letters of condolence. They had also received their son’s last letter home, dated 4 May, in which he referred to completing some undermining work and his present post as servant to Lieutenant W. J. Williams of Pontypool. His mother also stated that in an earlier letter home, her son had referred to the irony of the birds breaking into song on the curtailment of a heavy bombardment.

Mogford has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.