Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Reverend W. G. Arrowsmith, Army Chaplain’s Department

1914 Star (Rev., A.C.D.); British War and Victory Medals (Rev.); Coronation 1953, unnamed, nearly very fine and better, scarce ‘1914’ award to a Chaplain (4) £300-350

The Reverend Prebendary Walter Gordon Arrowsmith was born on 17 September 1888. He was educated at Gonville and Caius College, and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, gaining a B.A. in 1911 and M.A. in 1915. He was ordained a Deacon in 1912 and Priest in 1913. Arrowsmith was Curate of Clifton, Bristol, 1912-18, and during the war was Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, 1914-18; serving with the B.E.F. in France, August 1914. He was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the Forces in 1919. Arrowsmith was appointed Rector of St. Michael’s, Bristol, 1918-23; Vicar of Sparkhill, 1923-28; Honorary Chaplain to the Bishop of Birmingham, 1925-28; Honorary Canon of Birmingham and Rector of Handsworth, 1928-30; Clerical Secretary of the Birmingham Diocesan Conference, 1927-30; and Rector of St. Luke’s, Chelsea. 1930-51. He was Chaplain to H.M. the King, 1946-52 and Chaplain to H.M. the Queen, from 1952. From 1946 Arrowsmith was Prebendary of Twyford in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and from 1952 was Commissary of the Bishop of Fulham in jurisdiction of North and Central Europe. Other positions held included, Councillor, Borough of Chelsea, 1941 and Alderman, 1945-50.

He married Lilian Mary Elliott in 1915, by whom he had two daughters. Latterly living at Topsham Bridge, near Kingsbridge, Devon; he died on 1 June 1964.

Sold with copied research and also two booklets: A Guide to Saint Luke’s Church Chelsea, which bears a photograph of the recipient; and The Punjab Frontier Force Memorial Chapel and Sanctum St. Luke’s Church Chelsea, in which Arrowsmith is mentioned as being an enthusiastic instigator.