Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Pair: Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant W. E. West Devonshire Regiment

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (7795 W.O. Cl. 2. W. E. West. Devon.) in card box of issue with outer OHMS transmission envelope addressed to ‘W. E. West Esq., 44 Belmont Road, Exeter, Devon’; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7795 L. Cpl W. E. West. Devon: Regt.) extremely fine (2) £140-£180

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

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William Ernest West was born in Marylebone, Middlesex in 1874 and attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester on 22 May 1894, having previously served in the Regiment’s 3rd (Militia) Battalion. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment in India on 2 December 1895 he passed Course in Telegraphy in 1897. Transferring to the 1st Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment whilst still in India on 4 November 1902, the 1st Battalion moved to Rangoon, Burma in October 1905 and he was appointed Lance Corporal just prior the battalion embarking at Rangoon for Bombay en route UK on 21 December 1908.

West was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 286 of 1912 and was permitted to continue in the service beyond 21 years on 17 June 1914, being promoted Corporal on 8 August 1914. Attached to the 3rd (S.R) Battalion Devonshire Regiment, Raglan Barracks, Devonport he was posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion Devonshire Regiment, Devonport on 14 November 1914 and appointed Acting Quartermaster Sergeant. Promoted Warrant Officer Class II, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant on 5 August 1915 he agreed to continue in the Service for the duration of the War thus entitling him to Bounty of £15 in 1916. The 11th (Reserve) Battalion became 44th Training Reserve Battalion August 1916 and were stationed at Wareham, Dorset. The battalion was disbanded in February 1918 and he was posted to 3rd Battalion Devonshire Regiment, Devonport and reverted to Devonshire Regiment. Re-joining the Depot Devonshire Regiment at Exeter he was discharged Class ‘Z’ Reserve on demobilisation on 4 April 1919, after 24 years and 318 days’ service. Having served throughout the Great War at home he was not entitled to receive any war medals. The 1921 Census records him residing in Exeter aged 46, Storeman employed by Officer in Charge R.E. Stores, Plymouth at R.E. Stores, Town Barracks, Exeter. The 1939 Register reveals him still in Exeter an Army Storekeeper Pensioned Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, Special Constable, Exeter City Police which may indicate he was subsequently entitled to the Defence Medal. He was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal with Annuity of £10 to commence 1 January 1954, and died at Exmouth, Devon, on 21 September 1963, aged 88.

Sold with War Office letter regarding the recipient’s M.S.M. annuity; and copied research.