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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3444 Cpl. T. G. Nicholls, Devon: Regt.);
KSA (2) (3444 Serjt. T. G. Nicholls. Devon: Regt.);
1914-15 Star (7178 C.S. Mjr. T. G. Nicholls. Devon. R.) heavy scratches to reverse of Star in an attempt to obliterate naming;
British War and Victory Medals (7178 W.O. Cl. 2. T. Nicholls. Devon. R.);
Army LS&GC GV (7178 C.S. Mjr. T. G. Nicholls. Devon. R.)

Thomas George Nicholls was born in Plympton, Devon in 1873. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the Devonshire Regiment at Torquay on 1 February 1892. Initially with the Depot, Exeter he was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Plymouth on 7 July 1894. Promoted to Corporal he was transferred to Reserve on 1 February 1899 but almost immediately recalled for service in South Africa, arriving with the 2nd Battalion in Durban on 19 November 1899 and being promoted Sergeant the next day. The battalion took part in the actions at Colenso, Relief of Ladysmith and the capture of Botha’s Pass (Laing’s Nek). Returning to England with his battalion he re-engaged to complete 21 years’ service on 5 December 1902. Posted to the 1st Battalion he embarked to join them at Shahjahanpur, India, on 17 January 1905 . Returning to England with the 1st Battalion he left them at Malta with a draft posted to the 2nd Battalion then en-route for Candia, Crete to form part of the Inter-nation Garrison serving on the island. Returning to England he was discharged at his own request 31 January 1911.

Aged 41, Nicholls was recalled from Reserve and re-attested at Exeter on 1 September 1914. Posted first to the newly formed 8th (Service) Battalion and then transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion on 2 October 1914, he was promoted Colour Sergeant and appointed Company Sergeant Major. He embarked with the newly trained 9th Battalion and arrived at Le Havre on 27 July 1915. Taking part in their first action at Loos between 25th and 28th September 1915 he received a gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen and was evacuated to England on 2 October 1915. On recovery he was posted to the 44th Training Reserve Battalion at Wareham and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 October 1917. Finally discharged to pension aged 46 on 29 August 1919, he was subsequently employed as an Electrical Engineer, and died at Mitcham, Surrey on 28 December 1936, aged 63

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Transvaal (5450 Pte. J. Phelp [sic]. Devon: Regt.);
KSA (2) (5450 Pte. J. Philp. Devon: Regt.);
1914 Star, with clasp (5450 Pte. S. Philps [sic]. 1/Devon R.);
British War and Victory Medals (5450 Pte. S. Philps [sic]. Devon. R.)

Louis Stanley Philp was born in Bodmin, Cornwall in 1881. He attested for the Devonshire Regiment on 1 October 1899 and embarked for South Africa 17 October 1900 to join the 2nd Battalion. Returning to England in 1903 he subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion and at the outbreak of the Great War was stationed at St Helier, Jersey. The battalion embarked for France and joined the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre on 22 August 1914. Taking part in the early actions, he was wounded leading to him being medically discharged on 29 March 1915. Returning to Cornwall he died at Lostwithiel on 6 April 1962, aged 81.

To add a bit more colour to Stanley's medal shown above; here is a picture of him with his son (Herbert) whilst wearing his medals:

In this picture his son Herbert had just received his Distinguished Service Medal for operations associated with the Salerno landings in WW2.

Louis (known as Stanley) was one of sixteen Lostwithiel men who fought in the Boer War (1899-1902). On his return he was presented with a medal on behalf of the town similar to this one:


www.angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/2...s/l/4338-lostwithiel

Louis Stanley was also on active service in India and France during WW1, until, through injury he was invalided out.

Stanley was wounded in both legs (thighs) on the 27th August 1914 barely a month into the Great War.

During the 1930's Louis Stanley became the Landlord of the Royal Oak Lostwithiel, where he lived with his family.

He was also at this time appointed Town Sergeant and Town Crier by Lostwithiel Borough Council and wore , with pride the , the black cloak with the bullet hole ( the same cloak worn by Town Sergeant, Joseph Burnett, when he was fatally shot by a drunken soldier in Aug 1814). The cloak was eventually replaced and is now in the Lostwithiel Museum.

Louis Stanley held these positions into the 1950's.

He went on to reside in King Street on his retirement with his wife.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

IGS 1895 (2) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4403 Lce. Corpl. J. T. Blackmore. 1st Bn. Devon Regt.); Q
QSA (2) Natal, South Africa 1901 (4403 Sgt. J. T. Blackmore. Devon: Regt.)

John Thomas Blackmore was born in Deptford, Greenwich, in 1874. A Clerk by occupation, he enlisted for the Devonshire Regiment on 22 August 1895. Posted to the 1st Battalion stationed at Peshawar, India, the battalion joined the Tirah Field Force at Kohat on 8 October 1897. Wounded by a severe gunshot wound to the left foot during the action at Karappa on 25 October 1897, he was promoted Corporal and subsequently served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa in 1900 only to be invalided home in 1901. It was whilst as a Colour Sergeant with the 1st Battalion at Tidworth that he died on 22 June 1909, at the age of 35. At the time of his death he was under open arrest and an inquest found he had shot himself due to insanity.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Natal, Belfast (5184 Pte. F. Shepherd, Devon: Regt.) initial officially corrected;
KSA (2) (5184 Pte. J. [sic] Shepherd. Devon: Regt.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Victory Medal 1914-19, with copy MID (Lt. Col. R. D. Davies.)

Mounted with:

DSO GV with two Additional Award Bars, and integral top riband bar, this a good Museum-quality copy;
QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (5342 L/Sgt. R. D. Davies. 2nd. Devon. R.) renamed;
KSA (1 SA01 (5342 L/Sgt. R. D. Davies. 2nd. Devon. R.) renamed;
British War Medal 1914-20, erased;
Coronation 1902, bronze, unnamed as issued

Reginald Danbury Davies served during the Great War on the Western Front with the 54th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, and later as Commanding Officer of the 44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, and was wounded by the effects of gas on 9 September 1917.

DSO London Gazette 17 April 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a strong raiding party. He personally superintended the assembly of all parties prior to the attack, and carried out the task allotted to him with conspicuous success. He has previously rendered excellent service on many occasions.’

DSO Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 December 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. Realising the importance of the capture of a village when the advance had been held up by wire and very heavy machine gun fire, he collected all men available and led a dashing assault and overcame the enemy resistance.
He personally led a tank through the village, and after completing its capture he pushed out and consolidated a line beyond, and he led it for two days, when he succeeded in joining up with the battalion on his right. By his splendid example and leadership he contributed greatly to the success of the operation.’

DSO Third Award Bar London Gazette 10 December 1919:
‘In front of Inchy-en-Artois, 27th September 1918, for marked gallantry and determination. In command of the Battalion, he led a most successful attack against the enemy positions. Again on 28th September, near Raillencourt, notwithstanding most severe casualties, he again led his battalion in the attack and reached his objective, later materially assisting in beating off a strong enemy counter-attack. His reports throughout the operations were most clear and invaluable in determining the situation forward.’

MID London Gazettes 1 June 1917; 28 December 1917; 28 May 1918; 31 December 1918; and 11 July 1919.