Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant Drummer A. W. Matthews, South Wales Borderers

1914-15 Star (9841 Sjt. Dmr. W. A. Matthews, S. Wales Bord.), note initials; British War and Victory Medals (9841 W.O. Cl. 2 A. W. Matthews, S. Wales Bord.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (3903089 W.O. Cl. II A. W. Matthews, S. Wales Bord.), mounted as worn, minor official corrections to regiment on the last, generally very fine (4) £160-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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Archibald William “Drummy” Matthews originally enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1897 but transferred to the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers as a Drum Major in 1908. According to his regimental obituary, he subsequently served in ‘South Africa, Tientsin, Tsingtao, Gallipoli and Egypt and went to pension in 1922.’ Matthews did indeed enter the China theatre of war on 23 September 1914, when the 2nd Battalion, along with a detachment of the 36th Sikhs, formed the bulk of the British troops sent to assist the Japanese in capturing Germany’s naval base at Tsingtao (Qingdao). He died in March 1973, aged 90 years; sold with copied research, including several band photographs including the recipient.