Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. P. Varwell, Royal Irish Rifles, attached 5th Australian Division, who had been wounded whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion on the Aisne in September 1914, before going on to distinguish himself as Quarter Master General with the 5th Australian Division in Gallipoli and at Fromelles, 19 - 20 July 1916, on the Western Front

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. R. P. Varwell, R. Ir. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. R. P. Varwell); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm, mounted court-style as worn, together with a tunic riband bar, generally very fine or better (5) £1,400-£1,800

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, February 2015.

M.C. London Gazette 4 June 1917, the original recommendation states:

‘Captain (Temporary Major) R. P. Varwell has been acting as DAA and QMG of the Division since the formation and rendered valuable service in that connection. He has at all times shown untiring zeal, energy and ability in connection with his work and has never spared himself and has always rendered loyal assistance. In addition to his own duties he carried out those of AA and QMG at the time that officer was away sick. During the operation of 19/20 July at Fromelles he rendered valuable assistance with the organisation for those operations. He also served in France with the R. Irish Rifles from Aug 1914 and took part in all actions including the battle of the Aisne where he was wounded. He has been mentioned in despatches. He served in Gallipoli with 1st Corps and was present at the evacuation of Suvla.’

Ralph Peter Varwell was born in St. Thomas, Devon in February 1883. He was the son of Hawkins Blake Varwell of Thornworthy, Chagford, Devon. Varwell commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Irish Rifles in October 1908. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion in the French theatre of war from 14 August 1914. Having advanced to Lieutenant, Varwell quickly saw action in the fighting at Caudry on the 26th, when the Battalion suffered the loss of 60 other ranks, in addition to five officers and 29 other ranks being wounded. More serious casualties were sustained in subsequent operations on the Aisne during 14-21 September, and at Neuve Chapelle in mid-October, the unit’s war diary noting it was ‘practically without officers’ and down to less than 200 men. Varwell was amongst those wounded on the Aisne, and was subsequently mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915, refers).

After recuperating from his wounds, Varwell was attached as a Staff Officer with the 5th Australian Division and went on to serve with them at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He was appointed a Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quarter-Master General in February 1916, and ended the War as an Acting Lieutenant-Colonel on the Adjutant General’s and Quarter-Master General’s Staff. Varwell was mentioned in despatches on another two occasions (London Gazette 26 May and 20 December 1918) and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 20 November 1919).

Varwell served as A.A.G. with the Rhine Army, before serving as D.A.A.G. in the Black Sea and Turkey, May 1920 - February 1923. He retired from service with the Royal Ulster Rifles in July 1930, and died in Grahamstown, Cape Province, South Africa in December 1956.

Sold with copied research.