A Hackney man's Great War medal pair for service in France & Flanders: Sergeant William Francis Medhurst, 2/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, late 2/6th & 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

- British War Medal. Silver issue (20312 Sjt. W. F. Medhurst. Glouc. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (20312 Sjt. W. F. Medhurst. Glouc. R.)

Medal Verification: Both medals verified as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War per the respective campaign medal roll of the Gloucestershire Regiment (ref WO 329/1146) that was compiled and signed at Warwick, England, on, 19 October 1920.

Note: Sergeant William Medhurst, served in France & Flanders. The Great War medal roll showing that the recipient first entered a theatre of war while holding regimental number 20312, with 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, subsequently serving with the 2/6th & lastly 2/5th (Territorial Force) Battalions Gloucestershire Regiment, with which latter units he held the regimental number 267486

William Francis Medhurst, son of William Francis Medhurst (a Carter) & Jane Medhurst (nee Nightingale) was a native of, Kings Cross, London, England, where he was born on, 21 April 1884. On, 31 March 1907, William married Mary Ann Drusila Carpenter, in Hackney, London. By the time of the 1911 National Census for England & Wales, William, who was employed as a 'Printers Assistant', had become a father to 2 x children, viz a son, Herbert Medhurst (b. 1908) & a daughter Emily Medhurst (b. 1910), and was then residing at, 40 Boundary Road. Leyton London. During the Great War, William served overseas in France & Flanders, in sequence with 1st (Regular) then 2/6th (Territorial Force) & lastly 2/5th (Territorial Force) battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment. 1/Glosters served in France & Flanders from 13 August 1914, while the 2/6th & 2/5th Glosters both served in theatre from 23 May 1916. William was already holding the rank of Sergeant, when he first embarked for overseas active service. Post-War, William returned to his career in the 'Printing' industry. At the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England & Wales, William is recorded as residing with his family (comprising then of his wife, a daughter, Lucy Medhurst (b. 1915 ) and a son, Robert F. Medhurst (b. 1920), at, 199 Boundary Road, Leyton, Essex, England, at which time he was employed as an 'Printing Machine Fly Hand'. William Francis Medhurst, died in, London, England, on, 11 October 1961

Condition: GVF

Code: 21415