Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Great War M.M. group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 T. E. Stark, Royal Field Artillery

Military Medal, G.V.R. (11549 Sjt. T. E. Stark, R.F.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (11549 Cpl. T. Stark, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (11549 W.O. Cl. 2 T. E. Stark, R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1026030 Sjt. T. E. Stark, M.M., R.F.A.), good very fine or better (5) £400-500

M.M. London Gazette 20 August 1919.

Thomas Edwin Stark was born at Plumstead, Kent in May 1885, and was employed as a boy carpenter at the Royal Arsenal when he attested for the Royal Artillery at Woolwich in July 1900, aged 15 years. Posted to a depot battery of the Royal Field Artillery, he qualified for his Wheeler’s certificate in March 1904 and was advanced to Bombardier in April 1911 and to Corporal in October 1912. Shortly afterwards embarked for India, he served in 14th Battery, R.F.A. at Secunderbad, and was ordered with his unit to France in September 1914. And, as verified by H.Q’s 4th Brigade, R.F.A. war diary, he was quickly in action:

‘Les Glatignes, 31 October 1914. 7 a.m. 14th Battery took up positions previously occupied by 121 Battery at 7 a.m. They engaged enemy’s advancing infantry at 1.35 p.m. Fired 38 rounds ... Heavy firing from the direction of La Quinque Rue. 14, 66 and 37 Batteries opened fire in support and the firing subsided.’

A few weeks later, Stark was appointed an acting Sergeant and posted to 66th Battery, R.F.A., where he was quickly confirmed in his rank. Returning home in February 1915, he served as an instructor, and was advanced to Battery Sergeant-Major prior to being re-embarked for France in the Ammunition Column, 19th Divisional Artillery, that July. Remaining actively engaged until the end of 1915, when he returned to the U.K., Stark next entered the French theatre of war as a member of ‘D’ Battery, 87th L.A.C. in February 1916. Removing to 19th Divisional Ammunition Column (3rd Section) that October, he remained similarly employed until the War’s end, and was awarded the M.M., the background to which distinction is to be found in letter of reference written by one of his officers after the War:

‘During the German attack at Soissons, he was acting Sergeant-Major and at one period he was the only senior N.C.O. I had ... His steadiness under fire and during “nasty moments” was always a fine example to all the men.’

Stark was finally discharged at Shorncliffe in October 1920, the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal being announced in Army Order 177 of April 1921. Finding employment as an Assistant Foreman and Quantity Surveyor in the Works Department at the Royal Arsenal after the War, he died at Eltham in June 1973.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including his Wheeler’s and Assistant Instructor in Gunnery certificates, 1904 and 1912; his warrant for the rank of Battery Sergeant-Major (Warrant Officer Class 2), dated 20 July 1915; his Discharge and Character certificates, both dated 24 October 1920; letters of reference from two of his officers, circa 1919, one of which is partially quoted above; assorted family birth, marriage and death certificates, and a fine array of family photographs (approximately 60), including portraits of the recipient in uniform; together with extensive research.