5296 Sergeant George Garlick

Another medal that I am searching for is a single British War Medal to Sergeant George Garlick of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

His entitlement, originally a 1914 star and bar trio, was clearly together as a set of three medals for some time, however early in 2011 an auction house sold his British War Medal as part of a 'lot' of mixed odd medals to various regiments. Two months later the same auction house sold the 1914 star and bar and victory medal within another mixed lot. I had noted the three medals, and seeing the 1914 star (minus the bar by this time) decided to purchase it with the aim of re-uniting the three medals. A month or so later I saw the victory medal listed and bought that.

Since then I've searched for the BWM without any success. However I have a lead! I saw within the mixed lot that was sold at the auction was to an unusually named New Zealander and by searching the internet found that it had sold on Ebay. I contacted the seller, they didn't have the BWM but had purchased the medal at the Aldershot Medal Fare. Now, Aldershot is too far for me to travel but if anyone is down there and spots the medal then I'm prepared to pay above market rate to re-unite the group.

I'm also looking for his silver war badge: B90343

Garlick had a very colourful career, joining in 1897 and by virtue of always being in the 3rd or 4th Bn missing the Sudan campaign, the Boer War, service in India in 1908 before being reduced from Sergeant to Private in 1912 and transferred to the 1st Bn in 1914, right in time to leave with the rest of the Battalion in August 1914 and being present at the Warwicks first engagement of the war at Le Cateau. Garlick served throughout the war, finally being discharged in 1919 after being wounded twice (GSW is each arm).

A great career and I'd really love to get his group back together.

Alfred Charman DCM

One group of Warwickshire medals that has always intrigued me is the group that belonged to Alfred Charman.

The only real reference I have to the man is an electronic copy of the postcard below:

Quite a remarkable group to a man with quite a remarkable hair cut!

While Warwicks Queens South Africa's are fairly common, my research suggests less that 200 Kings South Africa's were issued to the Warwicks, combine that with his India General Service 1908 and his 1914 star trio and its already a very scarce combination. The DCM, I would suggest, makes it unique.

I see no sign of the group at the Warwickshire Regiment museum, but if it is in a collection somewhere I would be interested to find out!

Looking to sell medals

It can be difficult to sell medals and get the best price for them.

Ebay is great, but you need a certain amount of knowledge to get the maximum bids. Dealers will always try and get a bargain so that they can re-sell at maximum profit. Auction houses are hit and miss and take a large percentage of the total figure.

If you want a free, no obligation opinion of the best way to sell any medals then drop me a line at info@tommysmedals.co.uk - I'm happy to point you in the right direction and perhaps help you put a valuation on them!

Wanted! Medals to re-unite groups

I've got several medals and groups of medals that I've researched and found that the recipient had served in other campaigns and was awarded medals. I would love to put the groups together again, so if you know the whereabouts of the following then please let me know:

South Africa Medal 1854 to 1786 James Houlding, 1st Bn 6th Foot

I have Houlding's India Mutiny medal

India General Service 1854 with clasps Samana 1891 and Hazana 1891 plus an India General Service 1895 with clasp Relief of Chitral to 4929 Walter Key, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Walter Key transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and I have his Queens South Africa, he was severely wounded at Boschbult in 1902. I am also investigating whether he qualified for a LSGC medal which (if issued) would have been named to Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Queens Sudan and Khedive Sudan with clasps The Atbara and Khartoum to 4506 Pte/Cpl Henry Hazeldine, 1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment

I have Hazeldine's India General Service 1908

There are additional 'wants' posted in the column on the right. Ideally I would like to re-unite the groups, but even if you know of there existence I would really welcome knowing where they are.

The Worrall brothers

There is a group of medals within my collection that stir mixed emotions, two groups of medals to brothers, one who was to return home and one who didn't.

The Worrall family lived in Ladywood, Birmingham before the war. Arthur and Henry were territorials in the 5th battalion Royal Warwickshire enlisting (almost certainly) at the same time on July 5th 1912 as service numbers 1730 and 1731. At the outbreak of the First World War the 5th were mobilised, the brothers arriving in France in March 1915.

In April 1917 Henry transferred to the 1/8 Bn Warwickshire Regiment and unfortunately he died of wounds received in action in October 1917, his service records noting that he was wounded dangerously in the right arm.

I have Henry's medals in my posession along with his plaque, as you can see from the image below the medals and plaque were framed by (I believe) Arthur and are in excellent condition:

With Henry's medals are Arthur's (they came together which is why I suspect Arthur framed his brothers). Arthur survived the war and also won a territorial efficiency medal. 

Arthurs medals can be seen below:

With the medals I have a great deal of information including all of Henry's service history, a copy of a letter dated 1920 from Arthur to the war office asking for Henry's personal belongings (which had been sent to their mother by this time) and a subsequent list of Henry's belongings, which makes poignant reading:

2 discs
1 letter and photo
2 pipes
1 silver watch and keystrap
2 tobacco pouches
1 cap badge
1 wrist identity tag

I have also got a photograph of Henry's headstone, he is buried at the Etaples military cemetary in France, however I don't have any images of either Henry or Arthur, so if any descendants of Arthur are out there (Arthur married and had children, Henry never married) and you are able to provide any more information then I would be grateful to hear from you.

But until then, Henry is not forgotten and each year I lay a poppy in his memory.