Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army L.S. & G.C. (3), E.VII.R. (4539 Bandmaster H. L. Collins. Lanc: Fus:) unit partially officially corrected; another (2), G.V.R., 1st issue (10269 Bndmstr: R. R. Ricketts. Essex R.; 1135 Bndmr: T. B. F. Wiltshier. Sea: Highrs:) first somewhat worn, therefore good fine, the others very fine (3) £100-140

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

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Henry Leslie Collins was born on 28 February 1863 in Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland, and attested for the 49th Brigade at Dublin on 28 February 1877. Appointed a Drummer on 1 November 1877, he was promoted Corporal on 19 July 1885, and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on 7 November 1887. Promoted Sergeant on 21 March 1888, he was appointed Sergeant Drummer on 19 April 1888, before transferring to the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on 17 May 1893, with the rank of Bandmaster. He was awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 68 of 1903, and was discharged on 27 February 1907, after 30 years’ service. Embodied on 5 August 1914 for service during the Great War, he served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in France from 15 April 1915 until 31 August of that year, and was finally discharged on 11 March 1918. He died in Huddersfield on 17 January 1939.

Randolph Robjent Ricketts was the most celebrated bandmaster to serve with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, holding the post from throughout the Great War, and composing a number of Regimental marches under the pseudonym Leo Stanley. He was born in 1884, and attested for the Royal Irish Regiment on 30 August 1900. Appointed Bandmaster of the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment on 15 October 1913, he served as Bandmaster for 12 years before taking his discharge on 7 December 1925. Subsequently appointed Civilian Bandmaster to the Royal Signals on 1 January 1926, he retired on 31 December 1938, and died in 1967.

Thomas Bevan Frederick Wiltshier was born in 1884 and attested for the Royal Irish Fusiliers on 29 July 1899. Appointed Bandmaster of the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders on 17 November 1912, he died in post in India on 18 December 1923.

Sold with a photographic image of Bandmaster H. L. Collins and a portrait photograph of Bandmaster T. B. F. Wiltshier.