Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Acting Serjeant A. H. Stafford, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Liverpool Regiment and Lancashire Fusiliers

1914-15 Star (9744 Pte., L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (9744 Pte., L’pool. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21 (3436681 A. Sjt., S. & T. Corps); Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (3436681 Cpl., Lan. Fus.) contact marks, fine and better (7) £120-160

Arthur Hartington Stafford was born on 20 July 1886 and enlisted at the Depot of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 25 October 1905 and was posted to their 1st Battalion in February 1906. On 18 August 1906 he was medically discharged from the regiment. He enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment on 10 December 1906 and was posted to their 2nd Battalion in March 1907. Serving in India with the 2nd Battalion when the Great War began, he remained in India with the unit throughout the war, seeing active service at Landakai Ridge, November 1914-October 1916. In March 1918 he joined the Marri Field Force for operations lasting until May 1918. He re-enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment on 31 March 1919. In October 1919 he was appointed an Acting Serjeant and was seconded to the Indian Army Service Corps. In January 1920 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers whilst continuing his secondment to the I.A.S.C. During February-August 1920 he served with the Waziristan Field Force in operations against the Mahsud and Wana Wazir tribesmen. Stafford rejoined the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in January 1922 and in December 1926 attained the rank of Lance-Serjeant. He was discharged on 18 September 1928. Living at 17 Blade Street, Lancaster at the time of the Second World War, on 20 December 1940 Stafford enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private. After attaining the rank of Serjeant he was discharged, his services no longer required, on 14 February 1942. Not content to be idle in time of war, Stafford then volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in December 1942. Attaining the rank of Leading Aircraftsman, he served at R.A.F. Castle Kenedy, Milltown and Lossiemouth. He was released from the service on 14 December 1947. Aged 60 at the time of his release, he had served 298 days in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 12 years, 315 days with the Liverpool Regiment; 8 years, 246 days with the Lancashire Fusiliers; 84 days with the I.A.S.C.; 1 year 57 days with the R.A.S.C. and 4 years, 48 days with the R.A.V.R. Sold with copied service details.