Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nine: Brigadier-General Sir Walter Ludlow, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Brig. Gen.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Col., C.B.); Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, these unnamed; Volunteer Officers’ Decoration, E.VII.R., unnamed, hallmarks for 1907, with top bar; Volunteer Force Long Service, V.R. (Major, 1894); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., unnamed, hallmarks for 1919, with top bar, mounted for wear, lacquered, very fine (9) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

View
Collection

Walter John Ludlow was born on 18 July 1857 and was educated at Solihull Grammar School and at Malvern College. When he was 14, his father took him to Paris in 1871, where they had to pass through Prussian lines to get through. Two years later, Ludlow did a 1,000 mile journey on horse-back through Uruguay. In 1879 he took a canoe trip down the Thames and crossed to Calais from Ramsgate. A year later, he travelled through Zululand and Tongaland and wrote a book about it called, Zululand and Cetawayo. By profession he was an auctioneer, surveyor and valuer. He succeeded to his father’s business in 1887 and became senior partner in the firm of Ludlow, Briscoe and Hughes of Birmingham. In 1895 he was appointed a Surveyor to the Borad of Trade (Railway Department). He became a Fellow of the Surveyors’ Institution in 1890

Ludlow joined the 1st (Birmingham) Corps, Warwickshire Rifle Volunteers in 1874. In April 1875 he was granted a commission in that corps as a Supernumerary Sub-Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in December 1876, and Captain of the then 1st Volunteer Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment in April 1891. Later as Major he was awarded the Volunteer Long Service Medal by Army Order 17 January 1895. Promoted to Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1895, he was promoted to that rank in October 1901 and was awarded the Volunteer Officers’ Decoration in September 1904. He was granted the Honorary rank of Colonel in November 1906. On the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, Ludlow was appointed to the command of the newly formed 8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. At the time of the Coronation in 1911 he was awarded the Coronation Medal and was also appointed a C.B. (Civil) (London Gazette 19 June 1911). On completion of his tenure of command in May 1913, Ludlow transferred to the T.F. Reserve of his Battalion as Lieutenant-Colonel with the honorary rank of Colonel. In 1913 he was appointed Colonel Commandant of Cadets for Warwickshire, and he remained such until 1926

On the outbreak of the Great War, then aged 57 years, Ludlow was recalled, and became chief recruiting officer in Birmingham. Then he was appointed a Brigade Commander (graded as an Assistant Adjutant-General) on 9 January 1915, and promoted a Temporary Colonel in the Army on the same date. He commanded the 184th Infantry Brigade for just over a year until February 1916. This brigade, stationed in England, formed part of the 61st Division. He was granted the honorary rank of Brigadier-General in the Army on relinquishing command of his brigade. During 1917-18 he served as Area Commandant in Ypres. For his services in the Great War he was appointed a C.C. (Military) (London Gazette 1 January 1918). His name was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State of War by the Army Council (London Gazette 12 February 1918). He was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1920 (London Gazette 14 January 1920). Awarded the Jubilee and Coronation Medals, 1935/37, he was then promoted in the Order of the Bath, becoming a K.C.B. (Military) (London Gazette 23 June 1936

Ludlow was appointed a J.P. for the City of Birmingham in 1892, and of the County of Warwickshire in 1923; and a D.L. for Warwickshire in 1921. He died on 14 October 1941. Sold with copied research, including two copied photographs.