A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units

Pair: Second Lieutenant A. E. Painter, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. A. E. Painter.) edge nicks to VM, generally very fine

British War Medal 1914-20 (2) (Capt. C. J. Jarvis.; Lieut. K. A. Madge.) very fine (4) £80-£100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units.

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Archibald Ernest Painter was born in Tavistock, Devon, on 3 June 1888 and educated at Tavistock Grammar School. He initially served in the ranks with the 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and was posted to France in November 1915. Remaining on the Western Front until June 1917, Painter was successful in his application for a commission and was gazetted to the 1/5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 21 December 1917. Released from military duty on 19 January 1919, it seems likely that he returned to his profession as a schoolmaster in Exeter.

Sold with a file of copied research, including the recipient’s Officer Service Record; the former notes a second man with identical rank, initials and surname: Second Lieutenant Albert Ernest Painter of the Royal Engineers, who died of wounds on 14 April 1917 and is entitled to the BWM and VM.

Cecil James Jarvis was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, on 13 July 1894, and attested at Minster for the Kent Cyclist Battalion on 21 August 1914. Recorded as a corn merchant and former Cadet Officer in the 2nd (Cadet) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, he applied for a commission in the Army Service Corps in January 1915, his papers noting experience of horses, forage and transport work.

Appointed Second Lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry from 8 September 1915 (attached 2/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment), he suffered a shrapnel bullet through the left leg near La Vantie on 4 August 1916 and was removed to the 3rd London General Hospital soon thereafter. Operated upon, Jarvis spent the next three months in hospital before returning to light duties on 27 December 1916 with the Army Canteen Committee. Appearing before a special Medical Board at Caxton Hall in May 1917, it soon became clear that further treatment was required; sent to the Prince of Wales Hospital, he made a slow recovery and spent the final year of the war with the Army Canteen Service in Egypt.

Sold with the recipient’s copied Army Service Record.

Kenneth Alfred Madge was born on 6 November 1892 and worked as a land agent at Stratton in Cornwall. Attesting at Bodmin for the 4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 17 September 1914, he was appointed Private in the 2/4th Battalion and sent to India from 9 October 1914. Posted to Lucknow and Bareilly on 31 December 1914, his papers note a tissue infection in April 1915 in consequence of a mosquito bite. Appropriately treated, he served in Aden from 28 January 1916 before being appointed to a commission in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers in the summer of 1917; the Indian Army List of October 1918 lists him as a Company Officer, attached 3rd Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles.

Sold with an extensive file of copied research, with MIC confirming sole entitlement to the BWM and noting the recipient’s home address as Holyrood House, Chard, Somerset.