Orders, Decorations and Medals

British Red Cross Society, Balkan War Medal, clasp, Turkey, silver-gilt and enamels, hallmarked Birmingham 1912/13 (Walter J. Whiteman) in its original case of issue, good very fine and very scarce £150-200

Walter Whiteman served as an Orderly with the British Red Cross Unit in Turkey during the Balkan War of 1912-13. Sold with extracts from The Red Cross which chronicles the work of the unit on war service in Turkey and mentions Whiteman by name. The strength of the unit was 54 and 12 replacements which would indicate that fewer than 70 medals were awarded with the clasp for Turkey. Other Red Cross units were despatched to Greece and Bulgaria. The medals were presented by Queen Alexandra at Marlborough House in July 1913. Whiteman served with the British Red Cross Society during the Great War from February 1916, and is entitled to the British War and Victory Medals.