Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Private W. H. Benfield, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment - a prisoner-of-war of the Germans in 1918

1914-15 Star (28276 Pte., Notts. & Derby. R.); British War and Victory Medals (28276 Pte., Notts. & Derby. R.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed, first three badly worn; others very fine and better (12) £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Medals to the Sherwood Foresters.

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William Henry Benfield was born in Derby on 1 August 1897. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters at Derby on 24 July 1915. With the 2nd Battalion, he served in France, 23 December 1915-20 February 1916 and 3 May 1916-20 March 1918. He was taken prisoner on 21 March 1918 and held as a prisoner-of-war until December 1918. After the war he served in Egypt, August 1919-April 1922; Turkey, April-October 1922 and India, October 1922-April 1934. He was discharged at his own request on 18 April 1934. With the start of the Second World War he re-enllsted into the Foresters on 16 August 1940. In September 1942 he was transferred to the Green Howards. He was discharged as a Sergeant on 19 July 1945. After his retirement he worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Sinfin, Derby and the C. & W. Painting Department of the L.M.S. He died on 4 December 1965.

With Notts. & Derby Regiment Medals (2) 2 bars, Hockey 1924-25, Rugby 1928, 38mm., silver, reverse inscribed, ‘Pte. W. Benfield’; another, 1 bar, Foot Ball 1920-21, 38mm., bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘4961906 Pte. W. Benfield’; A.S.C.B. India Medal, Rawalpindi District Football, 45mm., silver, inscribed, ‘Cpl. W. H. Benfield’; 44mm., bronze medal inscribed, ‘Durand Football Tournament 1926’ ‘Cpl. W. H. Benfield’; St. John Ambulance Association Re-examination Cross, 27mm., silver, reverse inscribed, ‘470863 William H. Benfield’; 29mm., silver medal, inscribed, ‘Eduljee Dinshaw Football Runners up 1929’ ‘W. H. Benfield’; together with a Cigarette Case, 101 x 84mm., silver, engraved with the ‘Notts & Derby Regt’ motif and inscribed, ‘Presented to Sgt. W. H. Benfield by the Officers of the 2/5th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, May 1941.’

With original Regular Army Certificate of Service; Soldiers’ Service and Pay Book (2); Certified Copy of Attestation 1940; Soldier’s Release Book; newspaper cuttings re. his funeral; copied research and copied photographs.