Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Five: Corporal W. H. Nosworthy, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Russian Medal of St George for Bravery Fourth Class, and later served as Lieutenant in the 18th Devon (Saltash) Battalion, Home Guard

1914 Star, with copy clasp, unnamed (not erased); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (8864 Cpl. W. H. Nosworthy. Devon. R.); Defence Medal; Russia, Empire, Medal of St George for Bravery, Fourth Class, silver, the reverse officially numbered ‘No 165073’, and the edge impressed (8864 Pte. W. H. Nosworthy. 2/Devon. R.) contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £300-£400

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

View
Collection

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915.

Russian Medal of St George, Fourth Class London Gazette 25 August 1915.

William Henry Nosworthy was born in Charles, Plymouth in 1891 and enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment in 1908, being posted to the 2nd Battalion serving in Malta. The battalion moved to Abbyssieh Barracks, Cairo from where they mobilised for the Great War and disembarked at Le Havre on 6 November 1914. Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Russian Medal of St George whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, he transferred as Colour Sergeant to the 5th Battalion, Royal Defence Corps, before again being transferred as Acting Company Sergeant Major, to the Royal Fusiliers. Latterly employed as an Instructor of Musketry he was discharged in 1920. In the 1921 Census he is shown as a Tram Conductor employed by Plymouth Corporation Tramways.

Nosworthy enrolled in the Local Defence Volunteers on 30 June 1940 and was appointed Lieutenant in the 18th Devon (Saltash) Battalion, Home Guard on 1 February 1941 and served until the Stand Down of the Home Guard on 31 October 1944. He served on the Calstock Parish Council and was a founder member of the Calstock Branch British Legion. He died at Calstock on 28 December 1960, aged 69, and is buried in Calstock Churchyard.

Sold with copied research.