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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 98

The Victory Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Studd, Chinese Labour Corps, late King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and East Yorkshire Regiment, twice wounded, decorated by the Chinese and 'mentioned' during the Great War, who commanded the Reserve Company of the Shanghai Volunteer Force in 1924-25

Victory Medal 1914-19, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major A. W. Studd.), traces of verdigris, very fine

[China, Order of the Striped Tiger 4th Class] London Gazette 17 February 1920.

Albert William Studd was born on 13 October 1872 at Ipswich, Suffolk, the nephew of Henry Studd of Bermondsey, London. A carman by occupation, Studd enlisted at Beverley for the 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment on 16 September 1891, and witnessed a wide variety of home postings including Manchester, Preston and the Isle of Man. On 14 March 1893 he travelled to Egypt aboard the S.S. Junina, being advanced Lance Corporal on 1 May 1893, Corporal on 5 September 1893 and Lance-Sergeant on 19 December 1894. Admitted to hospitals in Alexandria and Cairo suffering from an abscess and jaundice, he was severely reprimanded for irregular conduct on range duty on 26 August 1895, before being examined at Abbasseyeh and found fit for service in India.

On 6 December 1895, Studd landed in India aboard the troopship Britannia. Posted to Bellary and Belgaum, he was awarded a Certificate for the repair of small arms and passed the Certificate of Musketry at Simla on 17 November 1897. He also found himself in the Regimental defaulter book once again, charged with neglect of duty for allowing women into the Sergeant's Mess on 7 May 1899; found guilty, he received a second severe reprimand from his Commanding Officer, Major Garnett. Two months later Studd was admitted to hospital suffering from a severe case of enteric fever. He remained there for 3 months, before being invalided home to England, his health improved but not yet fully recovered.

Promoted Colour Sergeant on 18 February 1899, Studd returned to the Regimental Depot at Beverley and was passed fit for duty on 13 April 1900. He was then attached to the 1st Chinese Regiment on 24 January 1901, being committed to complete 21 years' service at Wei Hai Wei on 16 May 1903. Posted to the Shanghai Volunteers on 23 March 1904, he was promoted Sergeant-Major and appointed to Headquarters Staff, being awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal on 13 April 1910 and discharged at his own request on 4 June 1910. From his service papers, it also appears that he passed the Regimental Test in Chinese language.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Studd returned to England and attested as Private for the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Appointed Colour-Sergeant on 11 December 1914, he was discharged and subsequently granted a commission in the 7th Battalion, K.O.Y.L.I., on 27 March 1915. Studd then served in France from 23 July 1915, where he briefly acted as Railway Transport Officer and was twice wounded in action:

'Shell contusion causing deafness right ear, 14th September 1915 (front-line trenches S/E Cordonnerie Post). Torn tendon left knee whilst on Patrol Duty between Bee & Trou Posts, 3rd October 1915' (Casualty Report, refers).

Evacuated home across the Channel aboard the S.S. Cambria and on to Caxton Hall, Westminster, Studd's health improved and he was posted to the Chinese Labour Corps at Noyelles on 7 April 1916, with whom he served for the remainder of the war. Promoted Major, Studd was 'mentioned' whilst serving with the 5th Chinese Company (London Gazette 30 December 1918, refers), later being promoted Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. On 7 January 1920 he finally relinquished his commission on completion of service and returned to Shanghai where he joined the Reserve of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps and resumed his pre-war role of Secretary at Weeks & Co. Ltd - a drapery, cabinet maker, house furnisher and decorator business located on the corner of Nanking and Kiangse Roads. However peace did not last long, as Studd found himself in Command of the 'Reserve Company' of the Shanghai Volunteer Force during Chinese Operations in the neighbourhood of Shanghai in September and October 1924; sold with copied service and medical records, London Gazette entries and extensive research, including a detailed copied report from Headquarters, China Command, Hong Kong, dated 4 February 1925 which details Chinese Operations and the actions of local Defence Forces, bolstered by the International Navy landing parties.


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Sold for
£150

Starting price
£100