A Second War R.V.M. group of eleven awarded to Warrant Officer Class I F. Wylde, Office Keeper at the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, late Royal Garrison Artillery

1914 Star, with clasp (26463 Cpl. F. Wylde. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with small M.I.D. oak leaves (26463 W.O.Cl.2. F. Wylde. R.A.); Defence Medal; Royal Victorian Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., suspension dated ‘1913-1933’, 2 clasps, Thirty Years, Forty Years (F. Wylde); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (191770 B.S.Mjr. F. Wylde. R.G.A.); Special Constabulary Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., 1 clasp, War Service 1942 (Sergt. Frederick Wylde.) mounted court-style for display, lightly polished and lacquered, nearly very fine and better (11) £800-£1,000

M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Frederick Theophilous Wylde was born in Wandsworth, London, on 29 May 1886. A ship’s steward, he attested for the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Woolwich on 21 August 1903 and witnessed early service overseas in India. Advanced Corporal on 29 June 1910 and briefly transferred to the Army Reserve, he took brief employment as Gate Keeper at the Royal Mews on 1 December 1912, before being recalled to service with 7 Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, upon the outbreak of the Great War. Sent to France on 15 August 1914, Wylde was promoted Sergeant 4 January 1915 and Mentioned in Despatches on 21 May 1918. His valuable service was further recognised by the award of the M.S.M. as Battery Sergeant Major of “B” Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, and appointment as Warrant Officer 1st Class before the cessation of hostilities.

Returning to London and his former civilian employment on the Staff of the Royal Household, Wylde was made Office Keeper at the Royal Mews on 1 October 1923 and was later awarded the Faithful Service Medal with 2 clasps. He is recorded in 1939 as living with his wife at the Royal Mews, and was thus likely present on 13 September 1940 when a German raider dropped five high explosive bombs on the Palace; the Royal chapel, inner quadrangle, entrance gates and Victoria Memorial were all hit, with four members of the Palace staff wounded and one killed. In a poignant statement, Queen Elizabeth is quoted as saying, ‘I’m glad we have been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East-End in the face’. For Wylde, his day was almost certainly spent helping to clear up the mess, followed by an evening dedicated to the service of the Special Constabulary and A.R.P.

Decorated with the R.V.M. on 2 June 1943, Wylde was re-designated Clerk at the Royal Mews on 1 January 1947, before retiring on 15 September 1955. As one of the most experienced members of staff, whose service to the Crown spanned over 40 years, Wylde was one of the true ‘old guard’. He died on 21 February 1970.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient in later life wearing his medals.