Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Platoon Sergeant-Major T. Paddon, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, late Royal Navy, who was captured at St. Valery sur Somme on 12 June 1940

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (2814187 Cpl. T. Paddon. Seaforth.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (2814187 Sjt. T. Paddon. Seaforth.); together with Seaforth Highlanders cap badge, buttons, and brass shoulder titles, very fine (4) £200-£240

Tom Paddon was born in Tiverton, Devon on 2 December 1904. Giving his date of birth as 2 December 1902 (as he did throughout his military career), he joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 15 February 1921 and saw service in the Iron Duke class battleship H.M.S. Emperor of India from 19 July 1921 to 14 March 1922. He was discharged to Shore with ‘bonus on reduction’ on 6 June 1922 and enlisted at Exeter in the Seaforth Highlanders on 14 September 1922. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India, 8 March 1923 until 9 December 1932 and then in Palestine, 10 December 1932 until 24 April 1934 and on 5 July 1935 he was at Dover, serving in the rank of Sergeant at the presentation of the new colours by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, Colonel in Chief of the Seaforth Highlanders.

Advanced to Warrant Officer Class III and appointed Platoon Sergeant Major, Paddon served with the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, as part of the 51st Highland Division, during the Second World War in France from 18 October 1939. He was captured on 12 June 1940 by the Germans at St. Valery sur Somme and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag VIII B in Germany until 12 May 1945. Released to the Army Reserve on 14 December 1945, he was discharged on 10 February 1954 and died in 1982.

Sold with the recipient’s Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, Certificate of Service, Soldier’s Release Book, Certificate of Education First Class, Record of Service Form, Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve, British Legion membership card; A card bound 10 page programme for the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders Presentation of the Colours ceremony held on 5 July 1935 together with certificate in the recipient’s name, Seaforth Highlanders Regimental Association Life Membership Certificate; various photographs of the recipient in uniform, both individual and group, at various stages of his career, some approximately A4 size and mounted on card; and an album containing 74 photographs, mostly military subjects in India, some family related, many images of the recipient.