Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Private J. W. Balshaw, Royal Army Medical Corps, later Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry

1914 Star, with clasp (9745 Pte. J. W. Balshaw. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (9745 Pte. J. W. Balshaw. R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal; Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial (399440 Tpr. J. W. Balshaw. D. of Lanc. Yeo.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, 1 clasp, Long Service, 1952 (John W. Balshaw); Service Medal of the Order of St John, silver, with 5 additional long service bars (7177 Pte. J. W. Balshaw Farnworth Div. No. 4 Dis. SJAB. 1929); Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, bronze, mounted for display; together with R.A.O.B. Medal, Furness Lodge 1058, silver and enamels (Presented to Bro. J. W. Balshaw Nov. 11. 1921) and a Somme Commemorative medal with award card dated 23 April 1965, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (10) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

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John W. Balshaw served with 22 Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. in France from 7 October 1914, and was awarded his Efficiency Medal per Army Order 177 of 1937.

Sold with a news cutting announcing the award of the second bar to his Service Medal which states: ‘Acting Sergeant Balshaw is married and resides at 37, Cooke-St, Farnworth. Joining St John’s ambulance work in 1908, he received his 15 year medal in 1929, and five years later was awarded his first bar. During the Great War he was engaged in France, Belgium and Italy with the R.A.M.C., and was awarded the Italian Croix de Guerre in 1918 for conspicuous service. Later he joined the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry. A native of Farnworth, he is 51 years of age, and is a turner by trade, being at present employed by Messrs Entwistle and Gass, Bolton. He has also worked at the Astley Green and Agecroft Collieries, and was formerly associated with the Moorfield Football Club, Farnworth. He is a member of St John’s church and a special constable.