A 'Fall of France' Evader's 'St Malmo to Weymouth in a Coal Boat' Second World War & long service medal group of 4: Private William Murray Sneddon, 1st Battalion Black  Watch (Royal Highland) Regiment

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp
- Defence Medals
- War Medal
- Military LS&GC Medal. GVI 2nd type with 'Regular Army' bar (2752460 Pte. W. M. Sneddon. B.W.)

Photograph of Medal LSGC Presentation: A photograph of Private W M. Sneddon, wearing kilt and with a 'Red Hackle' in his 'Tam O' Shanter, being presented with his LSGC together with below quoted article was published in 'The Scotsman' newspaper issue of 25 November 1952:

Quote,

C.I.G.S. AT PERTH

Presentation of Medals

General Sir John Harding, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, made a lightning tour of Service establishments at Perth yesterday. He flew to Scone Aerodrome, and, accompanied by Lieut.-General Sir Colin Barber, G.O.C.-in-C., Highland District, went in turn to, Highland House, the Black Watch regimental depot at Queen's Barracks, the infantry Record Office, 87 Coy., R.A.S.C., Headquarters, at Balhousie Castle, and finally Highland District Headquarters, where a conference was held.

Major. J.C. Monteith, O.C. Depot, the Black Watch, welcomed Sir John, who presented Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to the following; - R.S.M. T Withington, Pte. A. Cook, and Pte. W. Sneddon. Pte. Sneddon's home is at 22 Glenfarg Terrace, Perth, and with 23 years service, he is one of the oldest serving men in the regiment.

Unquote

Medals Verification: Second World War Medals Rolls for the British Army are not in the public domain as of 2026. However all 4x medals confirmed as entitled (and worn) per supporting cited newspaper source and general award criteria by which the recipient would have qualified

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp: 1 Day service with BEF in 1939-40
- Defence Medals: Awarded to recipient for 3 years aggregated 'Home Service' in United Kingdom 1939-44
- War Medal: Awarded to recipient for 28 days service in British Army 1939-45
- Military LS&GC: GVI II type 'Regular Army': 'The Scotsman' newspaper of 25 November 1952, refers

The recipient's unique British Army Number is from the block 2744001 to 2809000 allocated to the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) in 1920, and awarded sequentially to all new enlistees to the British Army (regulars & territorials) who on enlistment in the British Army were posted to the Black Watch

In later years William Murray Sneddon, was a 'Well K'ent' face around the Regimental Headquarters and Regimental Museum of the Black Watch at Balhousie Castle, and in the city of Perth - with numerous mentions / articles published in the Scottish press 1950's - 1970's. As an example, the below following retirement article together with photograph was published in the newspaper issue of the Dundee Courier of 28 August 1976:

Quote.

Farewell gifts from Black  Watch

Mr William Sneddon who has been connected with The Black Watch for nearly 50 years, was presented with a watch and a goblet on his retiral yesterday.

The presentation was made at Balhousie Castle, The Back Watch Headquarters. in Perth, by Brigadier J. C Monteith, the Colonel of the regiment, and Major H. McLean Clark, The Black Watch Association secretary.

Mr Sneddon, a widower, enlisted in the regiment at Perth in 1929, and served until 1936.

On the outbreak of the war, he was recalled and served in France.

Mr Sneddon escaped from France on a coal boat in 1940, and then served in Britain until 1944.

He moved to the Perth depot as a storeman, retiring from the army in 1960 to become a civilian storeman.

He became the caretaker at Balhousie Castle in 1962.

Mr Sneddon moves on Wednesday to a new house in Dunsinane Drive, where he will live with his daughter Eleanor.

One of his bodies in breeding canaries, and he has acted as a judge at several  shows.

Unquote.

Interestingly above article refers to the recipient being located in the United Kingdom on 'Home Service' after his escape from France in 1940 - indicating that he presumably served overseas again, albeit not in a campaign theatre in the period 1944-4

William Murray Sneddon, son of George Sneddon (a Shepherd, who in 1901 resided with his large family at Snade Cottage, Glencairn, Dumfriesshire. died in 1913) and Jane Sneddon (nee Findlay) was a native of Borgue, Kirkcudbright, Scotland where he was born in 1909 (Scotland Births refer). While a serving soldier he married Helen Henderson McCullie in Perth on 24 June 1931. William M Sneddon is recorded to have died at Perth, Scotland, on 27 March 1982

The medals mounted in the swing-style, and as-worn. The reverse of the white metal medal mounting bar retains its original long hinged pin & clasp fittings

Condition: LSGC dark toned the group GVF

Code: 26176