Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Company Quartermaster Sergeant W. H. Atkins, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (8749 C.S. Mjr. W. H. Atkins. 1/Devon: R.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (8749 Pte. W. H. Atkins. 1/Devon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (8749 W.O. Cl.2 W. H. Atkins. Devon. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (5608123 W.O. Cl. II. W. H. Atkins. Devon R.) mounted for wear, light contact marks, polished and worn, nearly very fine (7) £300-£400

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

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M.M. London Gazette 23 July 1919.

William Henry Atkins was born in Heanton Punchardon, North Devon in 1892. He attested at Tiverton for the Special Reserve in March 1908 and in the August attested for the Devonshire Regiment giving his age as 18 whereas in actual fact he was 16. Posted from the Depot to the 1st Battalion at Tidworth 23 January 1909, the battalion moved to Jersey in 1911 and from there they embarked for active service in France 21 August 1914. Promoted to Corporal in August 1915 and Sergeant in July 1916 he was wounded in action during the attack on Leuze Wood on the Somme on 4 September 1916. He was admitted to No 11 General Hospital at Comines suffering from Shell Shock severe and on recovery he re-joined his battalion in the field on 22 October 1916.

Promoted Warrant Officer Class II and appointed Company Sergeant Major on 5 August 1918 the award of Atkins’ Military Medal was confirmed by the Corps Commander on 26 November 1918. Finally returning home in November 1919 he was posted to the Permanent Staff of the 6th Territorial Battalion Devonshire Regiment at Barnstaple on 25 August 1920 and appointed acting Regimental Sergeant Major. He returned temporally to the 1st Battalion at Blackdown before being posted to the 2nd Battalion serving in Delhi, India, on 11 September 1924. Returning home via Aden he disembarked with his battalion at Southampton on 28 March 1927, and was presented with his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by Colonel W. Wright, V.C., on 3 June 1927. He was discharged on termination of engagement on 11 October 1929. Employed locally as a chauffeur he attested at Barnstaple for Territorial Army Reserve, Home Service Only, National Defence Companies on 22 August 1939, and was posted Private to the 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment, being promoted Sergeant the following week. Posted to the 10th Battalion Devonshire Regiment and appointed acting Company Sergeant Major, he held various home postings before he was discharged once again, ‘services no longer required’, on 19 March 1944. Later he was employed as a Clerical Officer at the Infantry Records Office at Exeter. He died at Exeter on 23 April 1962, aged 69.

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