Three: Sergeant E. S. Willsher, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (8829 Pte. E. S. Willsher. Shrops: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8829 Sjt. E. S. Willsher. Shrops. L.I.); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘504161’, retaining pin missing from reverse of badge, and catch crudely re-soldered, generally very fine (4) £60-£80

Ernest Sydney Willsher was born in Plumstead in 1889 and attested for the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at Woolwich on 28 January 1908, having previously served in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them in India from 5 September 1909 to 16 November 1914, and then with the British Expeditionary Force during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 December 1914. Advanced Sergeant in the 7th Battalion, K.S.L.I., on 28 July 1917, he served in the Battles of the Scarpe, Arleaux, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, and Cambrai. His service on the Front was regularly interspersed with admissions to various Field and General Hospitals, suffering from various disabilities, and he was discharged as being surplus to military requirements on 8 March 1919, after 11 years and 40 days’ service, being awarded a Silver War Badge.

Sold together with the recipient’s riband bar and a K.S.L.I. cap badge; and copied research.