Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Six: Warrant Officer Class 2 W. Love, 24th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces, late Royal Highlanders and West African Frontier Force, killed in action, Mont St. Quentin, France, 31 August 1918

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1900 (4758 Serjt., 2nd Black Watch); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, N. Nigeria 4758 Clr.-Serjt., R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (6831 WO2 24-Bn. A.I.F.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1st Cl. Sergt., Malabar Voltr. Rifles); Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Staff Sergeant Major, Instructional Staff 3rd M.D.); together with a renamed Memorial Plaque (William Love) edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine and better, rare to regiment (7) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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William Love was born in the Parish of Dalgety, near Fordell, Fifeshire on 11 March 1875. A Miner by occupation and a member of the 3rd Battalion Royal Highlanders, he attested for regular service in the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) on 25 March 1892, aged 17 years. In 1898 he volunteered for attachment to the the West African Frontier Force with whom he served for three years, seeing action in the Munshi expedition, January-March 1900 for which he was awarded the East and West Africa Medal with clasp for ‘1900’ - he was the only man of the regiment to receive this award. For further service in Northern Nigeria he was awarded the Africa General Service Medal with clasp for ‘N. Nigeria’ - only two men of the regiment received this. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1899 and local Colour-Sergeant in 1900. He rejoined his parent regiment in 1902 and then transferred to the Indian Volunteers Unattached List, being appointed 2nd Class Instructor in May 1908, 1st Class Instructor in November 1908 and Colour Sergeant in 1909. Love was discharged on 20 April 1913 and appointed to the Instructional Staff of the Australian Commonwealth Forces on 15 July 1913 as Staff Sergeant-Major, being advanced to Company Sergeant-Major in July 1917. A long time after he was first recommended he was finally awarded the Commonwealth of Australia M.S.M. in November 1917. In Australia he was assigned to the 24th Battalion A.I.F. and embarking from Melbourne in December 1917, arrived in France in April 1918. Warrant Officer Class 2 W. Love was killed in action at Mont St. Quentin on 31 August 1918, aged 43 years and was buried at the Peronne Communal Cemetery. He was the son of Henry and Euphemia Love and husband of Margaret Love, of 321 View Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. His name is commemorated on the Mossgreen Parish War Memorial.

With copied service papers; war diary and a quantity of other research.