Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant S. H. Pope, Devonshire Regiment, who was twice wounded in action and was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Gheluvelt on 26 October 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (9673 Sjt: S. Pope. 8/Devon: R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (9773 [sic] L. Cpl. S. Pope. 1/Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9673 Sjt. S. Pope. Devon R.) light contact marks and minor edge bruising, generally very fine (4) £400-£500

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

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M.M. London Gazette 28 January 1918.

Syndey Harold Pope was born in Torquay, Devon, in 1895 and enlisted there for the Special Reserve Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, on 2 October 1912. Subsequently attesting for Short Service with the Devonshire Regiment on 3 February 1913 he was posted to the 1st Battalion stationed at St Helier, Jersey, and embarked with the Battalion on SS Reindeer for France on 21 August 1914, disembarking at Le Havre. Promoted Acting Corporal on 13 November 1914 he received ‘Gun Shot Wounds Chest/Arm Severe’ on the Ypres Salient in April 1915 and was posted home for convalescence to the Depot Devonshire Regiment, Exeter, on 24 April 1915. Upon recovery he was posted back to the 1st Battalion in France in March 1916 and was promoted Acting Sergeant on 29 August 1916. He received ‘Gun Shot Wounds Left Arm/Hand Severe’ at Morval on 25 September 1916 and was invalided home admitted to Burrington War Hospital, Shrewsbury on 3 October 1916. Discharged from hospital on 5 March 1917 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion, then stationed at North Raglan Barracks, Devonport.

Posted to the 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, Pope embarked for France again on 13 June 1917 and was in action at Bullecourt, during the Third Battle of Ypres, on 9 July 1917. Promoted Sergeant on 25 September 1917 he was captured and taken Prisoner of War whilst serving with ‘A’ Company 8th Battalion at Gheluvelt on 26 October 1917 and was interned in Dülmen, near Müster, Prisoner of War Camp., subsequently transferring to Dyrotz, near Berlin, Prisoner of War Camp on 16 December 1917. He was awarded the Military Medal in January 1918,most likely for his involvement at Gheluvelt on 26 October 1917. Repatriated following the cessation of hostilities, he transferred to the Army Reserve on 10 April 1921 and was later employed as a General Clerk at Infantry Records, Southernay, Exeter before becoming the Secretary and Manager for a Housing Society. He died in Exeter on 6 August 1954, aged 58.

Sold with copied research.