Orders, Decorations and Medals

Special Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (4747 Pte. W. Merry, 3/Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) slight edge bruising, very fine £260-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 43rd/52nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

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Walter Merry was born in Oxford. A Labourer by occupation, he attested for service in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on 22 November 1893, aged 19 years, whilst serving in the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India, February 1896-May 1898, then with the 1st Battalion in South Africa. Serving with the Mounted Infantry during the Boer War, he was reported as Missing in Action at Gottenburg, 1 December 1900 but was later able to rejoin his unit. For his services he was awarded the Queen’ medal with clasps for Cape Colony and Orange Free State (4th battalion roll) and Paardeberg, Relief of Kimberley and Transvaal (1st battalion roll), and the the King’s medal with two clasps. In 1912 he was awarded the Special Reserve Long Service Medal (one of 8 to the unit). With the onset of the Great War, he served in France/Flanders, 13 August-30 October 1914. His service at the front was terminated by a gunshot wound to the back on 25 October. Returning to England he was discharged on 21 November 1915 on the termination of his period of engagement. Sold with copied service papers and roll extracts. Note: except for the medal and roll and the Q.S.A. Medal roll extract for the 4th battalion, his service number is given as ‘4646’.