The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Civil Division’ M.B.E. pair awarded to Private W. S. Sitwell, 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, who subsequently served as Secretary to the Cornwall County Patriotic Fund during the Great War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (1276 Pte. W. S. Sitwell, C.I.V.) nearly extremely fine (2) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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M.B.E. (Civil) London Gazette 1 January 1918.

William Sacheverell Sitwell was born in 1871, second son of the Reverend Canon Degge Wilmot Sitwell of Leamington Hastings, Warwickshire. A solicitor by profession and a keen rugby player, he joined the 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers on 10 November 1898 and served with their detachment in South Africa in No. 2 Mounted Infantry Company, City Imperial Volunteers. He was invalided home on 6 June 1900, the City Press reporting him to have ‘recently returned, sick’ on 18 July 1900.

Sitwell was a recipient of The Incorporated Law Society Boer War Tribute Medal (Hibbard J.3). Although rarely seen, 176 men are listed as having received this tribute medal which was issued in bronze, unnamed. As would be expected, most of the C.I.V. recipients were from the 14th Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteers.

Sitwell moved to Truro, Cornwall around 1905 and became a Principal of the firm Messrs. Smith, Paul and Sitwell. He was actively identified with the County Nursing Association and also with the Cathedral, holding the office of diocesan registrar; he was also an enthusiastic bell-ringer. He was clerk to the Lord Lieutenancy and on numerous occasions was Under Sherriff for the county. In the latter capacity he had the unpleasant duty of being present at the execution of Black, the St. Austell wife poisoner. He was a member of the City Council for several years, and was chairman of the River Committee. For his services as Clerk to the Cornwall Appeal Tribunal and Secretary to the County Patriotic Fund he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1918. He died at Truro, Cornwall, on 31 May 1930.