Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers

Six: Lieutenant A. W. Filling, 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers, later Indian Unattached List, who charged with B Squadron at Shabkadr on 5 September 1915, an action that saw the Regiment’s Colonel killed and Private Hull’s gallantry rewarded with the Victoria Cross, and later died while serving with the Royal Pioneer Corps in 1944

1914-15 Star (L-2396. Cpl. A. Filling, 21st. Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-2396 Cpl. A. Filling. 21-Lrs.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (S/Sgt. A. W. Filling. I.U.L., Attd. A.F.I.) slight contact marks, very fine or better (6) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Provenance: Bruce C. Cazel Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, November 2009 (when sold without the Second War awards).

Alfred William Filling was born in Staines, Middlesex, in 1891 and attested for 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers in February 1910. The regiment embarked for Egypt in September 1910, was stationed at Abbasiyeh Barracks, Cairo for a time before being onward posted to Rawalpindi, Punjab, arriving in India on 10 October 1912.

In 1915, Corporal Filling was serving in 2nd Troop, B Squadron, 21st Lancers and was present when the Regiment charged at Shabkadr.

The Charge at Shabkadr

Following the outbreak of the Great War in Europe and the resultant withdrawal of large numbers of British and Indian units, a series of uprisings on the North West Frontier threatened the security of the Punjab and consequently, in October 1914, the 21st Lancers were placed under orders for Risalpur in the frontier region. One of the more serious incidents of unrest occurred in 1915 when Mohmand Tribesmen, armed by the Kaiser, began to gather in strength near the city of Peshawar. A holy war was declared and on 4 September 1915, a large body of these Pathan tribesmen were seen to be entrenched in the foothills outlying Shabkadr, a fort town some 15 miles from Peshawar where the regiment was now positioned. The next day, an assault was ordered in what would be the largest battle fought on the North West Frontier since 1897. The 21st Lancers launched a charge to clear the enemy but C squadron, led by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel John Barclay Scriven, met disaster while attempting to cross a hidden watercourse. Many of the squadron were struggling in the nullah when the Mohmands attacked from surrounding cover and close quarter fighting ensued. The heavily outnumbered lancers suffered casualties before B Squadron, having attacked from another route, arrived providing heavy covering fire and drove off their assailants. Though the charge itself was disastrous, the battle was won, inflicting heavy casualties on the Mohmand forces. Private Charles Hull was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valour in galloping forward to rescue his Adjutant who was in great danger having had his horse shot from under him. The 21st (Empress of India’s) Lancers suffered 7 dead including their Commanding Officer and many more wounded and was proud to earn its second Battle Honour after its more famous and celebrated charge at Omdurman.

Corporal Filling’s medal index card pointedly defines 5 September 1915, Hafiz, Frontier Region of India, as his date and theatre of entry into the Great War.

After the Great War, on 20 February 1919, Filling was discharged from the 21st Lancers to immediately re-enlist in the Royal Tank Regiment, with which he served until 6 October 1921. Filling was later posted to the Indian Unattached List and served with the Indian Volunteers (A.F.I.) reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant at the time of the award of his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Pension records list him as being discharged on 1 June 1933 holding the rank of Acting C.S.M.

Filling left India with his wife and children, presumably for the last time, bound for London in 1935. His occupation on the passenger list of the Mooltan being given as ‘gentleman of leisure’. He was commissioned Lieutenant into the Royal Pioneer Corps on 1 December 1940, but suffering from ill-health, he died on 21 February 1944 while serving in that unit. He is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.

Sold with a rare large folio bound copy of the regimental journal, The Vedette, volumes III, IV and V, representing 1913 to 1915, in which Filling is frequently mentioned; and other research.