A most desirable Morecambe Artisan's Great War 'Archive' including Silver War Badge & Great War Campaign Medal pair: Corporal Edward Isaac Ditchfield, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Home Guard), late Army Service Corps

- British War Medal. Silver issue (DM2-162402 Pte. E. I. Ditchfield. A.S.C.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (DM2-162402 Pte. E. I. Ditchfield. A.S.C.)
- Silver War Badge (515124) - with original hinged pin & clasp fittings on reverse

Sold together with:

- Sketchbook with approx full page pencil sketches, inc Great War caricatures, each signed by the recipient (superb)
- Portrait photograph of recipient in Field Service Dress of A.S.C. with leather ammo bandoliers (excellent)
- Contemporary 2 x space medal riband bar for the Great War medals (and as worn on Home Guard uniform in WW2)
- Named card medal box (empty for Defence Medal) with recipients Morecombe address, see below

The empty Defence Medal box with address

Mr. E. Ditchfield,
197 Westminster Road,
Morecambe

Sketchbook: Covers fair, contents good. Measures 12.5 cm x 18.5 cms

There are an estimated 31 (except for one) full page pencil sketches - which overall are very good quality

As guidance only, we would summarise the contents as under:

- Military themed (7): Inc Highlander in Tam O'Shanter; Officer in French 'Boudoir' with 'Mlle' in lingerie
- Women in uniform / war work (5): Inc, War Munitions Workers, Motor Transport Drivers, Land Army
- Women (5): These are all single portraits sketches
- Caricatures (13): Mostly with captions
- Others (1): Small head & shoulders sketch

Important: There are an uncommonly large source of photographs and biographical details to be found on this soldier, and his family on the Ancestry genealogical website - including a splendid, coloured portrait of the soldier in his Home Guard uniform wearing his War & Vicory Medal ribbons on his battledress - and the very same ribands here included in the sale!

Medals verification: All of Great War awards, verified as the recipient's full entitlement for the Great War per the respective campaign medal roll of the Army Service Corps & Silver War Badge roll, referenced below:

- British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/2000
- Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/2000
- Silver War Badge: Ref WO 329/3229 (shows enlisted 11 December 1915 & discharged 1 February 1919)

Note: In addition to above the recipient was issued an un-named Defence Medal for his service in the local Morecombe Home Guard unit during the Second World War

Edward Isaac Ditchfield, second son of David Daniel Ditchfield (Joiner & Cabinet Maker) & Maria Ann Ditchfield (nee Riley) was a native of, Preston, Lancashire, England, where he was born on, 7 February 1891. The 1911 National Census for England and Wales shows Edward, living with his parents and 2 x older siblings (brother David & sister Una), at the family residence located at, 3 Back West View, Morecambe, Lancashire, and employed - like his father before him - as a 'Cabinet Maker'. During the Great War, Edward enlisted in the British Army on, 11 December 1915, and was posted to the Army Service Corps. After completion of his basic training, Edward subsequently served overseas in France and Flanders. Due to debilitating sickness contracted during the Great War, Edward was awarded a Silver War Badge, and took his discharge from the British Army on, 1 February 1919. Post-war Edward returned to his native roots in Morecambe, Lancashire, where he settled and ran a successful cabinet making & wooden toys business with shop. During the Second World War, Edward was a volunteer in his local Home Guard infantry unit in Morecambe, in which unit he held the rank of Corporal, and for which service he qualified for and received a Defence Medal. Edward Ditchfield, died, at, Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster, England, on, 15 April 1985

The medals retaining their original silk 'moire' ribands

A superb Great War archive, including a sketch book that reflects considerable talent as well as sharp sense of humour by this soldier of the Great War, who also returned to the call of his nation during the Second World War

Condition: Medals are EF

Code: 23068