The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (TR-9-81166 Pte.-A.C.Q.M. Sjt. W. G. Wiffen, 25/Bn. Training Res.) good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 12 December 1919. ‘For services in connection with the war’.

Only 5 immediate award M.S.M’s. were issued to the Training Reserve, of which 4 were awarded for ‘Gallantry’ in the Home Forces, these all published in the London Gazette of 12 March 1917. This medal would appear to be unique for ‘Valuable Services’ to the Training Reserve.

William George Wiffen was born in 1879 at St Pancras, London. A Commercial Clerk by occupation, he enlisted into the Army at Mill Hill on 9 December, aged 36 years, 7 months. Initially he joined the 1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment as Regimental No. 328978 before transferring to the 26th Reserve Training Battalion on 22 September 1917, first as TR/9/77490 and then as TR/9/81166. He transferred to the 25th Reserve Distribution Battalion of the Training Reserve from St Albans to Purfleet on 26 January 1918, and transferred to the Army Reserve on Demobilisation on 20 March 1919, giving his residential address as ‘Gwack’, Bolton Road, Headstone, Harrow. Sold with copied papers re. medical board and discharge.