Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Six: Company Quartermaster Sergeant J. A. Worland, Devonshire Regiment, later Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (1735 Pte. J. A. Worland. Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals (1735 Pte. J. A. Worland. Devon R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Territorial, with one additional award bar (5612907 Pte. J. A. Worland. 6-Devon. R.) mounted for wear, the Great War trio polished and worn, therefore fine; the later awards better (6) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Joseph Arthur Worland was born in Foxton, near Royston, Cambridgeshire in 1893 and enlisted in the 6th (Territorial) Battalion Devonshire Regiment on 18 June 1913, being embodied with his battalion on 5 August 1914. Embarking at Southampton for India they arrived at Lahore on 14 November 1914 and commenced a period of intensive training. He formed part of a draft of 29 NCO’s and Men under Lieutenant H. G. Walram, all of whom had volunteered for service with 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment in Mesopotamia, and embarked at Karachi on 20 May 1915. He was reported wounded in Mesopotamia whilst attached to the 2nd Dorsets on 28 September 1915; the 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment Part II Orders dated 5 June 1916 records him as Corporal Presumed Prisoner of War attached 2nd Dorsets. His records then become unclear, he is unlikely to have been released by the Turks however he is shown as transferred to the 2nd Garrison Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on 15 July 1917 and he is back home in Bude, North Cornwall to get married on 24 December 1918. Demobilised on 5 March 1919 he returned to Bude and was employed as a mason’s labourer.

Attesting at Bude for the Territorial Army on 2 October 1922 he was posted to the 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment and appointed Lance Corporal in June 1923 and Corporal on 14 January 1927. Awarded his Territorial Efficiency Medal in May 1935 he was transferred to the 4/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry later that year. Promoted Sergeant on 18 October 1935 he was embodied for Second World War service with the 5th Battalion DCLI on 2 September 1939 and was appointed Company Quarter Master Sergeant the following year. Serving on Home Duties he was discharged ‘Permanently Unfit for any form of Military Service’ on 7 January 1943. He was awarded an additional award clasp to his Efficiency Medal in 1948 together with Defence and War Medals. Returning to the building trade in Bude he died on 15 May 1965, aged 71.

Sold with copied service records and other research.