Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Acting Serjeant H. Ashby, Bedfordshire Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (200875 A. Sjt., Bedf. R.); Sweden, Order of the Sword, Knight’s 1st Class breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, mounted as worn, last with enamel damage, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of British Groups with Foreign Awards.

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Harold Ashby entered the 3rd/5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment in June 1915 and attained the rank of Serjeant in September 1916. He reverted to the rank of Corporal with the 1st/5th Battalion on proceeding overseas to the Egypt theatre of war in November 1917. Promoted to Lance-Serjeant in February 1918 and to Acting Serjeant in April 1918. Employed as a Physical Training and Bombing Instructor. Later transferred to the 19th London Regiment. Discharged on 23 March 1920. With copied service papers.

A photocopied extract from a fax from the Swedish Embassy states: ‘... I would like to inform you that Harold Ashby (no title given) was appointed Officer of the Royal Order of the Sword on 11 February 1935 obviously in connection with a trip to the Middle Eastern (sic) made by the Swedish Crown and Crown Princess. Our files from that period are in the National Archives in Stockholm so I regret not being able to provide you with more information regarding the bestowal.’