A 'Headmaster's' Great War 'Casualty' medal group of 4: Private Thomas McWalter, 3rd Reserve Bn Gordon Highlanders (T.F.) late 1st/4th Bn (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots & 6/Royal Scots

- 1914-15 Star (1987 Pte. T. McWalter. R. Scots.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (1987 Pte. T. McWalter. R. Scots.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (1987 Pte. T. McWalter. R. Scots.)
- Silver War Badge (204997). Complete with fittings and contained in numbered labelled box of issue

Sold together with:

- Fibre Identity Disc (I.D.): Named to (T. McWalter/1987/Pres 4/RS)
- Civil Nursing Reserve. Kings Crown. Enameled badge with reverse pin fittings
- Cramond Brig Golf Club, Silver & enamel hallmarked medal

Wounded in Action: Private Thomas McWalter 4th Battalion (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots is confirmed being wounded in action during the Dardanelles Campaign (Gallipoli), and is contained in the long list of 33 x 4/RS 'Other Ranks' published in the Scotsman newspaper issue of 3rd August 1915 - the list headed Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and showing his regimental number, rank and battalion

Medals Verification: All medals and Silver War Badge confirmed as entitled per the respective Great War medal & SWB rolls, as referenced below:

- 1914-15 Star Star: WO 329/2802. Shows No. 1987 Royal Scots, date of disembarkation 22/05/15 discharged 31/07/18
- British War Medal Silver issue: WO 329/1657, shows service with 6/RS immediately prior to transferring to Gordon Highlanders as No. S/16632
- Interallied Victory Medal: 329/1657, shows service with 6/RS immediately prior to transferring to Gordons Highlanders, as No. S/16632
- Silver War Badge: WO 329/3062. Awarded SWB No. 204997. Enlisted 01/09/14. Discharged 18/04/17 due to 'Wounds' to Army Reserve

Thomas McWalter, M.A., son of Thomas McWalter (a Joiner) and Alexandriana McWalter (nee Veitch) was a native of, Tranent, East Berwickshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1882. Prior to the Great War Thomas was a student at Edinburgh University, where the Edinburgh Roll of Honour 1914-18, records him having been in the Arts Class 1908-1914, with remark that he had served in the Great War, as a Private later Lance-Corporal with 4th Royal Scots (Territorial Force). The recipients Medal Index Card records Great War service with the 6th Royal Scots and his discharge unit from the Army Reserve as Gordon Highlanders. His respective campaign medal rolls, show disembarkation date of 22/05/15. Wounded in 1915, Lance-Corporal McWalter took his discharge from the British Army on, (Silver War Badge entry refers). Post-war Thomas - a teaching professional - resided in Edinburgh (Morningside), where he lived with his wife. The couple had a son, Thomas Ross McWalter. Sadly, their only son was 'Killed-in-Action' during the Second World War, while serving as a Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, he was 22 years of age at the time of his death. Sergeant had been reported missing since March 1941, but was subsequently reported as Killed-in-Action. Thomas McWalter - a retired 'Headmaster' is recorded to have died suddenly at 88 St. Alban's Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 12 August 1953, and was succeeded by his widow Agnes 'Nancy' McWalter (nee Galloway)

Sergeant Thomas Ross McWalter (son): Was holding the rank of Sergeant in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and was serving as air-crew with 15 Squadron of Royal Air Force Bomber Command. Thomas was qualified and operated as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner. His, Wellington Bomber, was brought down on a night raid over Germany on the night of, 31 March 1941, the bomber crash landed in Germany. Four of the Wellington Bomber's aircrew survived the crash landing to become prisoners-of-war, but Sergeant McWalter was killed and the Pilot, Pilot Officer H McCosh died of his injuries. The aircraft Wellington T2703 had crash landed near Haren, Germany. The British Bomber had been brought down by Luftwaffe night fighter pilot Karl-Heinz Scherfling flying a FW111. Sergeant Thomas Ross McWalter lies buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, where his memorial headstone is maintained in perpetuity

Thomas was evidently a keen golfer in the inter-war years, witness the inclusion of the hallmarked silver and enamel 'Cramond Brig Golf Club' - which latter is of considerable Scottish Golfing History interest

Cramond Brig Golf Club, Cammo, Edinburgh. (1907 - 1930): The club was founded in March 1907. The club was unusual as a Company limited by guarantee was formed in 1908 to take over the assets of the unincorporated Cramond Brig course and "to provide a golf course at or near Cramond Bridge". There were 350 members in 1908 rising to 700 during the early 1920s. The 18-hole course was laid out on land leased from the Maitland Tennant family. The lease expired in 1929 and the Cramond Brig Golf Club disappeared. The greens at Camo were removed and re-laid at the Dalmahoy Golf Club. The Camo course reverted to farmland and although the original lodge clubhouse still stands today it’s in a sorry state. The station at Barnton was 10 minutes from the course.

A choice condition Great War medal group to the Royal Scots

Condition: Mostly EF

Code: 24560