Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin

Foreword

Preface to Part IV

This final part of the sale of my Long Service awards brings to a close the dispersal of my large and varied collection of medals, begun in 1943 when, as a schoolboy on holiday, bought a Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in Folkestone for the princely sum of 6s 6d.

Previously, my Peninsular Gold Cross with two clasps, my India General Service medal to Ronald Ross of malaria fame, my unique King's Police Medal and two bars, and the medals of other notable individuals have passed through previous DNW auctions. In March 2005 I donated my Victoria Cross, the award won at Givenchy in May 1915 by Lance-Cpl Leonard Keyworth, 24th (County of London) Bn, the London Regt, which I had acquired from the estate of Keyworth's sister 42 years previously, to the Queen's Royal Surrey Regt Museum. All my medals were all dear to me but, as I am now 81 years old, I believe it is time for me to bring my collecting to a halt. I have had a lot of fun and I would like to think I have enhanced each acquisition with much research and photographs of the recipient wherever possible.

What has also given me great satisfaction over the years are the several booklets on long service awards that I compiled. I owe a great deal to the late Howard Linecar, who took up my project. Other particular pleasures were researching my 1965 publication on my old TA regiment, The Lambeth and Southwark Volunteers: A Century of Voluntary Service in the Volunteers and Territorials 1860-1960, and working with my friend Peter Abbott on British Gallantry Awards, the first edition of which was published in 1971.

Lastly, I would like to thank Nimrod Dix and Christopher Hill for their collaboration over many years and for safely overseeing the dispersal of my collection under the hammer.