A Collection of Medals to the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers

A Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Major P. B. Welton, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was wounded three times during the war

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved ‘1st January 1917. Captain P. B. Welton. Royal Welch Fusiliers’; China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (5241 Serjt: P. B. Welton. 2nd Rl: Welsh Fus:); 1914 Star, with clasp (5241 R.Q.M. Sjt. P. B. Welton. 2/R.W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Major P. B. Welton.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (5241 C.Q.M. Sjt. P. B. Welton. R.W. Fus:) mounted court-style for display, the China medal nearly very fine, otherwise nearly extremely fine (6) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

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M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Percy Bertram Welton was born on 16 October 1878, in Newcastle upon Tyne. He had a long, varied and distinguished career with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Joining the ranks in 1896, he served continuously until 1919, retiring with the rank of Major. He served 18 years in the ranks with the 2nd Battalion and saw action in China at the relief of Peking, then Burma and India.
He had a fascination with sport and he was a part of his battalion winning three Regimental Boxing Championships of India. Returning to the UK in 1914, he embarked with the battalion for France on 28 October 1914. He became a Second Lieutenant in October 1914 for services in the field to the Second Battalion. Welton continued in action and was in the Fromelles area when he was wounded by a sniper in November 1914.

He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in February 1915, Lieutenant (May 1915) and Temporary Captain (July 1915), serving until he was wounded at the battle of Loos in September 1915. In December 1915, he became adjutant to the 17th Battalion and returned to France. He saw action at Mametz Wood when he was wounded again in July 1916.
He won the Military Cross and became Acting Major in January 1918 before rising to Temporary Major and taking command of the battalion in September 1918. Welton received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1917.

Percy lived his later life at 11, Neville Crescent, Acton Park, Wrexham. He was a keen Freemason in his spare time and a member of numerous lodges while serving with The Royal Welch Fusiliers in India. In Wrexham, he was a member of Bromfield Lodge, which still exists today.

He retired on 28 May 1921, but his connection with the regiment did not cease there. He assumed the duties of Recruiting Officer for the Regimental Area. In that capacity, he served until a fortnight before his death on 19 March 1923.