Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Private W. R. Doe, Volunteer Company, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, later Regimental Sergeant Major, Royal Army Service Corps

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 (7217 Pte. W. R. Doe. Vl. Co. Oxfd. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (S4-251683 T.W.O. Cl. I. W. R. Doe. A.S.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (S-4-251683 S.S. Mjr. W. R. Doe. R.A.S.C.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (3801 Cpl. W. R. Doe. 1/Bucks: V.R.C.) impressed naming, polished, good fine and better (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1919: (North Russian Expeditionary Force, Murmansk). The original recommendation states:

‘Performed excellent work in assisting in the organisation of the Base Supply Depot at BAKHARITZA. He displayed exceptional energy at a time when labour was very short and not only superintended labour, but did more with his own hands than any labourer. This example had a very marked effect on the standard of work.’

William Richard Doe enlisted into the Territorial Force on 22 July 1890, aged 15 years 10 months [Statement of Services corrects this to ‘14 years 10 months]. He served with the East Kent V.R.C. until 31 January 1897, and joined the 1st Bucks V.R.C. on 12 February 1897, with whom he served until 31 March 1908, when he joined the Army Service Corps (South Midland) Company Territorials. He served with the Volunteer Company, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, in South Africa 1900-01, and with the Army Service Corps in North Russia from June 1918 until February 1919, when he was invalided home from the Field Hospital at Archangel.

The lot is sold with a silver vesta case inscribed ‘Presented by Slough. South Africa 1900-1901, E. Comp. 1st Bucks R.V., Private W. R. Doe’, this with some corrosion; original portrait photograph; Statement of Services; Discharge Certificate and Soldier's Pass Book; Illuminated Certificate of Service, Oxford Light Infantry 1897-1908, confirming Queen’s Medal with 4 Clasps, this rather fragile and with marginal losses; a mounted Defence Medal; two identity discs, and other letters and documents.