A regimentally scarce 'Immediate MSM' and campaign medal group: Superintendent John Illingworth, Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary late 6th (Banff & Donside) Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force)

- 1914-15 Star (11626, L-Cpl. J. Illingworth, Gord. Highrs.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (11626 A. C. Sjt. J. Illingworth. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (11626 A. C. Sjt. J. Illingworth. Gordons.)
- Meritorious Service Medal. GV 1st type (265989 Sjt-A.C.Q.M.Sjt - J. Illingworth. 6/Gord: Highrs)

Immediate Award of the Meritorious Service Medal: The MSM was published in the London Gazette issue of, 18 January, 1919, for 'France & Flanders'. The published preamble to the award is quoted below:

Quote,

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the following Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, in recognition of valuable service rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders: —

Unquote.

One of only 4 x MSM's (Immediate) awarded to 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (ref 'The Sixth Gordons in France and Flanders' (Mackenzie, 1921). Only 83 x 'Immediate' awards of the Meritorious Service Medal to the Gordon Highlanders during the period 1916-1928 (ref 'The Meritorious Service Medal The Immediate Awards 1916-1928 (Ian McInnes, 1992). Which by campaign theatre were gazetted as under:

- Gallantry: 2
- France & Flanders: 28
- France: 20
- Mesopotamia: 2
- Italy: 5
- India: 3
- POW: 8
- Murmansk: 1

Medals Verification: The MSM and all the Great War campaign medals verified as issued per the respective London Gazette issue & medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders, as under:

a). 1914-15 Star: Ref WO 329/2800 (shows No. 11626 first entered theatre of war 'France', 10 March 1915, 'Disembodied', 14 March 1919)

b). British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/1662 (shows firstly No. 11626 6/Gordons, & lastly 6/7 Gordons as No. 265989)

c). Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1662 (shows firstly No. 11626 6/Gordons, & lastly 6/7 Gordons as No. 265989)

d). Meritorious Service Medal (Immediate Award): Published in London Gazette issue of, 18 January 1919

Note: Also entitled and received a Defence Medal, for his WW2 Police Service

Photograph: The Penrith Observer newspaper issue of 24 February 1953, contains a retirement notice pertaining to Superintendent John Illingworth, included a captioned portrait photograph of the Superintendent in uniform and wearing his medals, which comprise 5 x ribands for the 1914-15 Star trio, Defence Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

John Illingworth, eldest son of John George Illingworth (Agriculturalist & Cattleman) and Elizabeth Illingworth (nee Philip), was a native of Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born on, 19 January 1893. The 1901 National Census for Scotland, records John, living with his parents and 3 x younger siblings, viz, sister, Isabella and two brothers, Alfred and Alexander, at location, Badentoy Croft, Banchory-Devenick, Kincardineshire, Scotland. After the outbreak of the Great War, John Illingworth volunteered for service in the British Army, and on in enlistment in 1914, he was posted to his local infantry regiment, the Gordon Highlanders, being posted to 6th (Banff & Donside) Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force). The 6th Gordons had as a battalion first landed in France in November 1914, but John, after first completing his basic training, first entered theatre of war 'France' on, 10 March 1915, when he was sent to France with a reinforecement draft for 6/Gordons the British ArmyShortly after the Great War. Decorated with one of only 4 x MSM's to 6/Gordons, John took his discharge form the British Army on, 14 March, 1919. Shortly after taking his leave from the British Army, John joined the Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary. On, 31 January 1924, John married Ethel Marie Sandham, at, Seaton, Cumberland, England. John Illingworth had a long and distinguished record of service with the Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary

Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary: Was established in 1856. In 1947 this force absorbed Kendal Borough Police. Less than 20 years later this amalgamated force absorbed Carlisle City Police to form a force broadly the same as today's force called the Cumberland, Westmorland and Carlisle Constabulary. In 1965, it had an establishment of 652 and an actual strength of 617. In 1967 the force name was changed to Cumbria Constabulary.

The 'Penrith Observer' newspaper issue of 18 December 1945, contains a list of promotions in the Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary, and had the below following note on John Illingworth, who had been Inspector at Windermere, and was promoted to Superintendent to be based at Workington, effective 1 January 1946:

Quote,

Supt. Illingworth, joined the force, in, June 1919, was promoted Sergeant in 1932, and Inspector, in 1939. He has been stationed at Penrith, Cleator Moor, Whitehaven, Wigton, Shap and Windermere, wither he went from Penrith, in April of last year.

Unquote.

John Illingworth's 'Uncle', Superintendent William Gibb Illingworth, had before him been a long serving Superintendent of the Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary. The local Cumbria (Penrith) newspapers circa 1935-1945 are packed with articles pertaining to the Police services, incidents and cases handled by John Illingworth, who is recorded to have died at Westmorland, Cumberland, England, during the last quarter of 1958. John was succeeded by his widow, Ethel Marie Illingworth, who died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, Scotland, on, 11 April 1986

Condition: Mostly GVF

Code: 22619