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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 374

(x) An impressive Great War Balkans M.S.M. group of eight awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major H. de L. Wilson, King's Royal Rifle Corps

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (404 Cpl. H. Wilson, K.R.R.C.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (404 O.R. Clk. H. Wilson, K.R.R.C.); 1914-15 Star (404 C. Sjt. H. de L. Wilson, K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (404 W.O. Cl. 1 H. de L. Wilson, K.R. Rif. C.); Delhi Durbar 1911 (404 Sjt. H. Wilson, 3 K.R.R.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (404 C. Sjt. H. de Lacy Wilson, K.R.R.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (404 Q.M. Sjt. H. de L. Wilson, 3/K.R. Rif. C.), the Victory Medal with officially re-impressed naming, generally very fine (8)

Henry de Lacy Wilson was born in York in September 1876 and enlisted in the King's Royal Rifles in September 1897.

Posted to the 3rd Battalion, he was mobilised for service in South Africa in October 1899 and, among other actions, was present at Potgeiter's Drift and Spion Kop (Queen's Medal & 4 clasps; King's Medal & 2 clasps).

In the period leading up to the Great War, Wilson served in Bermuda, Crete, Malta and India, where he was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal in 1911.

Returning to England on the outbreak of hostilities, he was advanced to Colour-Sergeant (Orderly Room Sergeant) and embarked for France in December 1914, where he was detached for duty with the 3rd Echelon, G.H.Q. at Rouen.

In late 1915, he was embarked with the 3rd Echelon for Egypt, from whence, in November 1916, he transferred to the Salonika front. He remained similarly employed until the Armistice, being awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1917 and advanced to Quarter-Master Sergeant in the following month. He was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 21 July 1917 and 30 January 1919, refer), in addition to being awarded the M.S.M. for 'valuable services in the Balkans' (London Gazette 3 June 1919, refers).

Latterly employed as a Superintending Clerk at G.H.Q. of the Army of the Black Sea, Wilson returned home in early 1920 and was posted as R.S.M. to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, K.R.R.C. On taking his discharge two months later, he stated his intended place of residence as Seafield Villa, Fishergate, Yorkshire; sold with an extensive file of copied research.


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Sold for
£750