Auction Catalogue

25 March 2015

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to include a Fine Collection of Napoleonic Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 769 x

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25 March 2015

Hammer Price:
£100

Five: Gunner V. Holmes, Royal Field Artillery - latterly an Inspector in the Suffolk Constabulary

1914-15
Star (94887 Gnr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (94887 Gnr., R.A.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953, these unnamed, mounted as worn, nearly very fine and better (5) £80-100

Victor Holmes was born in the village of Stradbroke, near Eye, Suffolk in 1897. A Carter by occupation, he attested for service in the Royal Field Artillery at Ipswich on 31 August 1914. He entered the Balkan theatre of war on 1 July 1915. In Gallipoli he was wounded in action on 13 August 1915 - suffering a bullet wound to the left leg and was invalided home. Recovering, he was then posted to France, serving there, August 1916-April 1919. Transferred to the Army Reserve in May 1919. At some time post-war he joined the Suffolk Constabulary and was listed as an Inspector in the 1953 Coronation Medal roll. As Inspector he was in charge of the police involved in the aftermath of a collision between two meteor aircraft over Clopton, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, August 1956.

With newspaper cutting re the collision; photographs of the wreckage and investigators (7); two other photographs of a car wreck; a letter and envelope addressed to Mr Holmes at the Police Station, Woodbridge; Ration Book belonging to Doris E. Holmes; with copied Army service papers, m.i.c. and roll extracts. With two St. John Ambulance Brigade Re-examination date labels - 1951 and 1952.