Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Colonel William Terry, late Oxf. & Bucks. Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (Col. W. Terry); British War and Victory Medals (Col. W. Terry) together with related group of miniatures, both sets mounted as worn, extremely fine

Three: Colonel W. E. C. Terry, Oxf. & Bucks. Light Infantry

1914 Star (Lieut., Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major) mounted court style and lacquered, the star gilded, in initialled Spink case, together with mounted set of miniature medals, good very fine (12) £300-400

William Terry served in the Royal Bucks Militia from 1884 until it was disbanded in 1908, being in command as Hon. Colonel from 10 February 1903. He was appointed a Captain in the Oxf. & Bucks. Light Infantry on 24 May 1888. During the Great War he was a Colonel on the Special Reserve Unattached List.

William Edward Cecil Terry was the son of Colonel William Terry. He was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, Oxf. & Bucks Light Infantry on 4 May 1907, becoming Lieutenant three years later. He went to France with the 2nd Battalion on 14 August 1914, and served as Staff Captain in the 5th Infantry Brigade. In October 1916, he joined the 1st Battalion in Mesopotamia which replaced the battalion lost at Kut. The new 1st Battalion was assigned to the Tigris Line of Communication. He was in command of “C” Company until February 1918, when he became D.A.Q.M.G. at Hillian, Hindiyah District, until November 1918 (despatches London Gazette 21 February 1919).

From the summer of 1919, Major Terry was with the 2nd Battalion at Cork, and was in Ireland during the troubles until 1923, for a time as Brigade Major. He retired in 1924, but commanded the Queen’s Westminster Civil Service Rifles for four years, from November 1930, as Brevet Colonel in the Territorial Army. He served as a King’s Messenger from May 1942 until 1950 when ill-health caused his resignation. Colonel W. E. C. Terry died on 24 May 1959, at his home at Brockenhurst. See also related family group to Lieutenant-Commander A. H. L. Terry at Lot 1117.