Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A particularly emotive Great War pair awarded to Sapper T. Cheshire, Royal Engineers, who was severely wounded in the face in the final few weeks of hostilities and was later sent to St Dunstan's in Regents Park to 'learn to be blind' 

British War and Victory Medals (3398 Spr. T. Cheshire. R.E.) mounted with his St Dunstan’s brooch-badge pinned upon riband, nearly extremely fine (2) £70-£90

Thomas Cheshire was born in Luton on 11 November 1891 and attested for the Royal Engineers on 1 November 1915. Appointed Sapper and posted to the 20th Territorial Force Depot, he served in France and Flanders with the 483rd (East Anglian) Field Company and was soon mentioned in the Luton Reporter on 29 January 1918:

'Sapper T. Cheshire, whose parents live at 8, England's-lane, has received a script signed by the Major-General of his Division expressing appreciation of the reports received from his Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander relative to his conspicuous bravery in the field on Dec. 4 and 5.' 

Remaining on the Western Front, Cheshire's luck finally ran out on 2 October 1918 when he received a severe gunshot wound to the 'eyes, face, left thigh'. Admitted to No. 24 General Hospital the following day, it soon became apparent that he had been permanently blinded in both eyes. Evacuated home, Cheshire was discharged due to wounds on 7 March 1919. Three months later he married Miss Nellie Impey - who had lost a brother at Gallipoli - and the young couple set about raising a family and re-building their lives; admitted to St Dunstan's Headquarters on 6 December 1920, Cheshire soon came under the wing of Sir Arthur Pearson and was one of hundreds of blinded ex-servicemen given the opportunity to learn new skills in woodworking, massage and poultry rearing. 

It was around this time that Cheshire applied for a M.I.D. emblem, his M.I.C. later annotated 'no record found'. The National Archives note a second M.I.C. in his name, catalogued amongst five Military Medal index cards to other recipients; possibly 'set in motion' but ultimately ungazetted, Cheshire received no further recognition for bravery. Moving to Kenworth Road in Whitechapel, he did, however, survive the worst of the London Blitz and lived a further 35 years. He died on 1 May 1975.