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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 204

(x) An interesting Mesopotamia operations wireless operator's M.S.M. group of seven awarded to Squadron Sergeant-Major C. T. Marwood, 2nd Wireless Signal Squadron (Sappers & Miners), late King's Royal Rifle Corps

1914-15 Star (No. 5 Cpl. C. T. Marwood, I.U.L.); 1914-15 Star (7812 Cpl. C. Marwood, K.R. Rif. C.), an unusual duplicate issue; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (7812 W.O. Cl. 2 C. Marwood, K.R. Rif. C.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (5 S.S. Mjr. C. T. Marwood, 2/Wls. Sig. Sq. I.U.L.); Delhi Durbar 1911, the last somewhat polished, very fine and better (7)

Cecil Thomas Marwood was born at Norwood, Southall, Middlesex on 17 March 1890 and enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in January 1907.

Drafted to the 3rd Battalion, he served in Crete and Malta, prior to being embarked for India in late 1910. In the following year, he was seconded to the India Unattached List and, more precisely, No. 41 Wireless Signal Squadron of the Sappers & Miners. It was in this capacity that he qualified for the Delhi Durbar Medal.

An experienced wireless operator by the time of the outbreak of hostilities, he was likely among the team No. 41 Squadron sent to Goa in August 1914, to intercept the wireless traffic of neutral ships suspected of passing intelligence to the German raider Emden.

At the end of the year, Marwood's unit entered the Macedonian theatre of war as part of the Signal Service Telegraph Department, a component of Indian Expeditionary Force 'D'. Then in March 1915, the unit joined the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, Marwood being recommended for a mention in despatches for his good work during the Euphrates operations from 26 June to 25 July 1915, a distinction that was duly approved (London Gazette 4 April 1916, refers).

It was about this time Marwood joined the 2nd Wireless Signal Squadron, and it was in this capacity that he was awarded the M.S.M. for his valuable services in Mesopotamia (London Gazette 25 September 1917, refers). He also received a second mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 9 January 1920, refers).

Marwood died in Islington, London in 1971, aged 81 years; sold with an extensive file of copied research, from which the above biographical entry has been taken.


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Sold for
£550