Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War ‘South Persia’ theatre Posthumous M.C. group of five awarded to Captain A. W. Will, General List (Interpreter), attached South Persian Rifles, late Royal Army Medical Corps, who was killed in action in the defence of Khaneh Zinian Fort against superior numbers of well armed tribesmen in May 1918; he had previously participated in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, and was wounded five times in France

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (60542 Pte. A. W. Will. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. W. Will.); British Red Cross Society Medal for the Balkan Wars 1912-13, silver-gilt and enamels (Alfred Will) in its original case of issue, extremely fine (5) £1,800-£2,200

M.C. London Gazette 12 September 1919: ‘Temporary Lieutenant (Local Captain) Alfred William Will, General List, attached to the South Persian Rifles.’
‘For gallant and able leadership on the 10th and 16th May 1918, and by his example he held Khaneh Zinian Fort against superior numbers of well armed tribesmen from 18th to 25th May 1918. This officer had previously been wounded five times in France.’

Alfred William Will was born at Brora, co. Sutherland, on 30 April 1892, son of Alexander Will, of Bonar Bridge. He was educated at Brora Public School, and Bonar Bridge Higher Grade School. He qualified as a male nurse and took part in the Serbian and Macedonian Campaigns of 1912-13, as a member of the British Red Cross Society (Red Cross Medal with clasps). He was afterwards a Police Constable and enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps on 10 May 1915, having previously served in the 7th Seaforth Highlanders. He served in France and Flanders from 5 September 1915, till October 1916. Having been wounded five times in France, he obtained a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, Special Lists (Interpreter). He was promoted Lieutenant in July 1917, and Captain the following September. He subsequently went to Persia, was attached to the South Persian Rifles as an Interpreter, and was killed in action at Kaneh Zinian on 25 May 1918. He was buried in the British Cemetery in Shiraz and, in 1962, was moved to the Tehran War Cemetery, situated within the British Embassy residential compound at Gulhek, approximately 8 miles from Tehran.

The official report of his death states that he died on 25 May 1918, at ‘Kaneh Zinian, South Persia. Believed from evidence before Court of Enquiry to have been killed by mutineers. A body believed to have been his was brought in to Shiraz on August 13th 1918, and buried in the British Cemetery at Shiraz on August 15th 1918.’

The South Persia Rifles were raised in June 1916. Commanded by British officers, this force eventually consisted of around 8,000 Persian, Arab and Baluchi men in regular cavalry, infantry and artillery units. They protected British interests in the region and helped maintain law and order until their disbandment in 1921.

In May 1918, the Qashqai, leading most of the tribes of Fars, declared war on the British and the South Persia Rifles. During the period of active hostility, which lasted until the autumn, the South Persia Rifles fought for its survival against enemies both from within its own ranks and from without.

One of the highlights of the war was the mutiny of the South Persia Rifles garrison at Kaneh Zinian in May when trouble was sparked off by a trivial incident when, on 10 May some men of the Darrasuri tribe of the Qashqai, who had encamped near Kaneh Zinian, were arrested by the South Persia Rifles post commander, Captain Will, and charged with stealing two donkeys belonging to the force. The Darrasuri chief opened fire on the post, which caused serious clashes between the South Persia Rifles troops and the Qashqai, Kazerunis, and other tribal forces. Moreover, Shiraz was also gripped by extreme anti-British protests.

The local Shaikh declared jihad against the British and on 23 May, Brigadier-General Sykes mobilized 1,600 Anglo-Indian troops. In an engagement near Deh Sayk on 25 May the tribes were pushed back, but news then arrived of the mutiny at Kaneh Zinian and the killing of two British officers. A 700-strong South Persia Rifles detachment arrived too late from Deh Sayk. The tribes withdrew from the area and the South Persia Rifles column returned to Shiraz.

A contemporary account describes the events at Kaneh Zinian on 25 May:

‘In the outlying fort at Khan-i-Zinian were Captain Will, Sergeant Coomber, and one hundred and sixty Persian officers and men. Captain Will had ample supplies, and reported on May 23rd that he could hold out as long as was necessary. Saulat [leader of the Qashqais] however, won over the Persian garrison. They shot Captain Will before he could defend himself, but Sergeant Coomber held out single-handed for some hours, killing a considerable number of mutineers before he was wounded and captured. Both he and Captain Will were alive when the Qashqais entered the opened fort, but they were killed by Saulat’s men.’

Sold with Registered packet and transmission letter forwarding medals to his widow at Dornoch, Sutherland; and War Office letter forwarding the Military Cross ‘together with a statement of the services for which the decoration was awarded’ (citation as given above).