'Steady Buffs, Steady' Old Contemptibles Great War & Second World War campaign medal group of 4: Private William Herman Wicker, 1st Battalion East Kent Regiment later Air Raid Precaution

- 1914 Star. With Silver Rosette emblem on riband (L-9779 Pte. W. Wicker. 1/E. Kent. R.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (9779 Pte. W. Wicker. E. Kent. R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (9779 Pte. W. Wicker. E. Kent. R.)
- Defence Medal

Sold together with:

- East Kent Regiment. 'The Buffs'. Cap badge. Great War era in gilding metal, with reverse sider fitting

Medals Verification: No. L/9779 Private William Wicker's entitlement to all the Great War Medals is confirmed per the below cited medal rolls. The medal rolls for the Second World War are not yet in the public domain, however the recipients service in the Air Raid Precaution from 1939 is confirmed per below referenced source:

- 1914 Star. No clasp: WO 329/2425. Disembarked France 07/09/14, shows Lance-Corporal transferred 409 Agricultural Company Labour Corps
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1844 shows later transferred to Labour Corps and renumbered 481467
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/1844 shows later transferred to Labour Corps and renumbered 481467
- Defence Medal: 1939 National Register, resident Schoolhouse, East Ashford, Kent, serving ARP. Decontamination Kent County Council
- Silver War Badge (No.B340770): WO 329/ Shows discharged 30/05/1919

William Herman Wicker, was a native of Woolwich (Plumstead) Kent, England, where he was born on 23 December 1893. William was a professional soldier who had enlisted in the British Army circa 1911 (SWB Roll gives a later
enlistment date of 26 April 1912), at which time he was posted to 'The Buffs' East Kent Regiment. At the time of the compilation of the 1911 National Census for England, William is recorded as a 17 year old soldier serving at Canterbury Barracks, with 'The Buffs' (the regimental depot of the Buffs was located at Canterbury). William entered theatre of War, France, where he disembarked on 7 September 1914. Latterly he was transferred to the Labour Corps, serving with the 409th Agricultural Company. At the time of the 1921 National Census for England and Wales, William is recorded living with his wife, Ethel and daughters, Vera and Edith, at their residence located at Orlestone, Kent, England, at which time he was employed by a Farmer, G.E. Garner at Orchester Villas, near Ashford, Kent, England. By the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Census William is recorded employed as a 'Roadman Heavy Worker' and a serving volunteer with the local ARP Decontamination Kent County Council. In 1939, William was living with his wife Ethel Wicker and both of his married daughters (indicative that the husbands were away on active service) at the Schoolhouse, East Ashford, Kent. England. William Herman Wicker is recorded to have died sometime during the first quarter of 1973

Condition: Great War medals polished GF, others GVF

Code: 24954