Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Private W. Fowden, Manchester Regiment, who was discharged as a result of wounds received at Cambrai in October 1918, while serving in the 1/5th Battalion

British War and Victory Medals (64259 Pte., Manch. R.), together with related cap badge and Silver War Badge, the reverse of the latter officially numbered ‘B-229963’, the first with edge bruising, otherwise very fine and better (4) £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Cheshire and Manchester Regiments, Rifle Brigade and Royal Green Jackets formed by the late David Boniface.

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Walter Fowden, a native of Hyde who attended the local Wesleyan Day School, enlisted in the Manchester Regiment in April 1918. Posted to the 1/5th Battalion, he had served out in France for about six months prior to being wounded at Cambrai on 20 October 1918, an incident which he described in a letter to his parents. a letter that was subsequently published in The North Cheshire Herald:

‘We had advanced about three miles, had gained our objective, and had been there about two hours, when Jerry, the German, tried a counter-attack. Our artillery opened up with a very heavy barrage and it didn’t give the Germans a chance. It simply blew them back. Some of our gunners were firing short as the enemy were coming close to us - in fact a large number of our men were killed. One of the shells dropped near me and a piece of shrapnel went right through my arm. It is not serious but I have not a bit of use in the arm. Sister tells me the use will come back, but it will take months and months. It is written on my medical sheet that the nerve is divided. That is why I have no use of my arm.’

Fowden was discharged as a result of his wounds and awarded the Silver War Badge (No. B-229963).

Sold with a small quantity of original documents, including the recipient’s Certificate of Identity and Provisional Protection Certificate, dated 27 March 1919, and a cutting of the above quoted wartime newspaper feature.