Five: Trumpet Major W. N. L. Pardoe, Royal Horse Artillery

1914 Star (29878 Tptr: W. N. L. Pardoe. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (29878 Dvr. W. N. L. Pardoe. R.A.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver (29878 Tptr. W. N. L Pardoe. R.H.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1019768 Tptr. W. N. L. Pardoe. R.H.A.) contact marks and wear, nearly very fine (5) £180-£220

Wilfred Noel Lloyd Pardoe was born in Weedon, Northamptonshire, on 20 February 1889. Following in the footsteps of his father, he attested for the Royal Horse Artillery at Weedon on 23 April 1903, and was appointed Trumpeter on 9 January 1907. Sent initially to India with “T” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, he transferred to “N” Battery at Ambala and witnessed the Delhi Durbar of December 1911.

Sent to “W” Battery on 30 November 1913, Pardoe returned home to England on 3 September 1914 with Askwith’s Brigade, 2nd Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery. Later posted to “V” Battery, he disembarked at Marseilles on 7 November 1914 and fought at Bellewaarde and Hooge, the latter involving the enemy use of flame throwers for the first time. Transferred with “V” Battery to Mesopotamia in June 1916, Pardoe was awarded the Army L.S.G.C. Medal in October 1921, and was discharged in the rank of Trumpet Major on 22 February 1929.

Sold with the recipient’s original Regular Army Certificate of Service, which adds: ‘exemplary conduct. Smart, honest, sober, hardworking and in every way reliable and trustworthy. For the past four years has been employed as Trumpet Major in charge of boys, and would make a useful marshal or caretaker in any big school.’