A scarce named Silver War Badge & Great War campaign medal pair: Private Edward Adshead, 7th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry late Wiltshire Regiment

- British War Medal. Silver issue (34419 Pte. E. Adshead. Wilts. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (34419 Pte. E. Adshead. Wilts. R.)
- Silver War Badge (B228115 & and additionally privately etched ‘E. Adshead, K.S.L.I.’)

Sold together with:

- Original numbered B228115 card box of issue for Silver War Badge

- Royal Life Saving Society Swimming Proficiency Medal. Bronze (E. Adshead. Oct. 1905.). In case of issue

- Dewsbury (Yorkshire) Amateur Swimming Club Prize Medal. H/M Silver (Won by E. Adshead, 1905). The weight of this hallmarked silver medal is about 25g

Note: All of the Great War awards verified as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War per the respective campaign medal and Silver War Badge rolls as under:

- British War & Interallied Victory Medals: Ref WO 329/1478
- Silver War Badge: Ref WO 329/3097

Ernest Adshead son of Abraham Adshead (a Carpet Weaver) and Mary Eliza Adshead (nee ) was a native of Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, where he was born on 15 August 1882. By the time of the 1901 National Census for England and Wales, Ernest is recorded living with his parents & 8 x siblings comprising 3 x younger brothers, viz, Henry James, Scott & Henry, together with his 5 x sisters, viz, Jane, Mary Ann, Ethel, Eveline & Annie, residing at the family home located at , . By the time of the 1911 National Census for England & Wales, Ernest was by then married and described as a 'House Painter', living with his wife Edith Adshead, 19 School Street, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England

Ernest enlisted in the British Army on 5 December 1915, and first entered a theatre of war 'France', sometime after 31 December 1915. On entry into theatre of war 'France' he held the regimental number 34419 while serving with a battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. The respective medal roll has remarks showing that when he first disembarked in France that he remained on the strength of the Wiltshire Regiment at the 'Infantry Base Depot', prior to being posted to the 7th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry - with which latter unit he subsequently served on the 'Western Front'. Edward was allocated the regimental number 27316, on transfer to the 7th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Evidently, post-war Ernest felt more regimental loyalty to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, considering he remained longest with the 7/KSLI, and that it was with that unit, that he experienced front line service. It was the KSLI that he chose to inscribe on his SWB - and not the Wiltshire Regiment! Private Ernest Adshead was discharged from the British Army, on. 31 May 1919, at which time he was 36 years and 297 days of age. Ernest returned to his wife and pre-war employment in, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, where by the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England & Wales, he is recorded employed as a 'Painter & Decorator Own Account' and residing with his wife at, 1 Greenwood Street, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England. Ernest Adshead is recorded to have died at, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, sometime during the 2nd quarter of 1970

Condition: Mostly GVF & better

Code: 21413