A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment

A Great War M.M. group of five to Corporal T. W. West, 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was wounded and decorated for gallantry on the Somme in July 1916

Military Medal G.V.R. (4805 Cpl. T. W. West. 1/Linc: R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (4805 Pte. T. W. West. 1/Linc:R.); British War and Victory Medals (4805 Cpl. T. W. West. Linc. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (4805 Bndsmn: T. W. West. Linc: R.) contact marks and minor edge bruising, nearly very fine (5) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment.

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M.M. London Gazette 14 December 1916.

Thomas William West, a native of Woolwich, was born in 1881 and attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers on 4 September 1896 at the age of 15 years and 1 month. In 1897 he transferred to the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment and was stationed in Egypt from 29 December 1897 to 7 January 1899. He served in India almost without interruption from January 1899 to February 1911 and then in Aden from February 1911 to October 1912. On the outbreak of the Great War he arrived in France with his Battalion on 13 August 1914. He was advanced to Corporal on 9 May 1915 and wounded in action on 16 May 1916 although he was able to remain on duty. He was wounded again, receiving a gun-shot wound to the nose, on 11 July 1916 during the fighting at Mametz Wood on the Somme. He was admitted to No. 34 Casualty Clearing Station at Vecquemont and then repatriated to England on the Hospital Ship George via the General Hospital in Rouen. He returned to the front on 22 July 1917, briefly serving with the 3rd and 10th (Service) Battalions before being reposted to the 1st Battalion on 21 September 1917. He was hospitalised again on 1 October 1917 and discharged to Base but recovered and was re-posted to the front on 3 December 1917. After the cessation of hostilities he was sent to the UK for demobilisation on 28 January 1919 and discharged on 26 February 1919 having completed over 22 years’ service.

A note on his service record states that West was a member of the Battalion Band from 9 December 1903 to 30 September 1918 and indeed his rank on his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is that of Bandsman.