Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant S. C. Wakefield, Tank Corps, formerly Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division, killed in action on 22 March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive

1914 Star (L.10/3194 S. E. Wakefield, A.B., R.N.V.R., Drake Bttn. R.N.D.), note different initials; British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.), good very fine and better (3) £400-500

Sydney Clark Wakefield was born in London on 20 September 1894, the son of Dr Clark Wakefield of Brondesbury. By employment an Average Adjuster with Messrs. Hogg & Heath of Cornhill, he volunteered for the Navy at the outbreak of war and saw service as an Able Seaman in the Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division, at Antwerp and in Gallipoli. In both localities he acted as Interpreter, being conversant in both French and German. In January / February 1916 he applied for a commission; his commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Ballantyne said of him, ‘He served under me in the Drake Machine Gun Battery R.N.D. in the Dardanelles and proved himself an excellent machine gunner, plucky and resourceful under fire, of excellent character both as to discipline and stamina.’ Wakefield was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Tank Corps. He was reported wounded and missing on 22 March 1918 and was later reported as being presumably killed on that day. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. Sold with 18 copied papers concerning the recipient’s service.