Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Winifred, Lady Willcocks, the wife of General Sir James Willcocks, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I., D.S.O.

British War Medal (Lady Willcocks.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, together with a lady’s bow riband from the Delhi Durbar Medal, extremely fine (2) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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Winifred Willcocks was born in 1871 at Saugor, Bengal, India, the daughter of Colonel G. A. Way, C.B., Indian Army. In 1889, at Calcutta, she married Captain James Willcocks, Leinster Regiment, an officer who had seen extensive campaign service since 1878. He went on to achieve senior rank commanding, amongst others, the Ashanti War forces in 1900, the Mohmand Field Force on the North West Frontier in 1908 and the Indian Corps in France during the Great War. He died in 1926 having most recently served as Governor of Bermuda.

Lady Willcocks is confirmed on the roll for the 1911 Delhi Durbar medal where she is listed amongst ‘military ladies’. During the Great War she served in France in 1918 with the Church Army and is confirmed as receiving the British War Medal only.
Her husband’s memoir, The Romance of Soldiering and Sport, makes reference to her medals:

‘... the Coronation Medal given for the Delhi Durbar was distributed broadcast to all kinds and conditions of people ... but I suppose the supply for the military had run out because my wife was never given one until a year later and only then because the late Lady Hardinge, wife of the Viceroy, found her at Viceregal Lodge without one on a ceremonial occasion and with that kindly courtesy which so distinguished her, immediately took off her own medal and pinned it on my wife's dress.
She had taken her full share in the War, having served for a year with the Indian Soldiers' Fund, after which she worked all and every day for eighteen months at the Waterloo Canteen and finally went to France with the Church Army and served for six months at Calais, once having her dwelling badly bombed by aeroplanes. The War Medal she won is her recognition and she has reason to be proud of it.’

Lady Willcocks died in 1951 at Roseacre, Guildford, Surrey.