Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Sergeant W. W. Baragwanath, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

British War and Victory Medals (22757 Cpl. W. W. Baragwanath, D. of Corn. L.I.), together with related Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (William Warley Baragwanath), extremely fine (3) £100-120

William Warley Baragwanath, who was born in St. Ives, was accidentally killed whilst instructing men in bombing on 7 January 1917, while serving in the 10th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

An officer in his battalion wrote in the following terms to Baragwanath’s widow:

‘By his death I have lost not only one of my finest Sergeants, but a friend. He was absolutely fearless in action and on innumerable occasions gave proof of his great courage. He was specially commended by the General for his gallant conduct in the recent heavy fighting. I think it was very likely that he would have received some decoration. I saw him after he had been hit; he was quite unconscious and you may rest assured that he suffered no pain ... ’

Baragwanath is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension; sold with research, including modern day photographs of his headstone.