Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Trumpeter Corporal of Horse A. J. Mudd, Royal Horse Guards, late 6th Dragoon Guards

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3814 Pte., 6th Dragoon Gds.);1914 Star (1380 Tptr. Cpl. of H., R.H. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (1380 C. of H., R.H. Gds.); Coronation 1911, silver, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (1380 Tptr. Cpl. of H., R.H. Gds.) mounted court style for display, first with edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine; others good very fine and better, rare (6) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of 1914 Stars to the Cavalry.

View
Collection

At the outbreak of war the Royal Horse Guards were stationed at Windsor. They provided a Squadron for the Composite Regiment of Household Cavalry which entered France on 16 August 1914 as part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade. The Regiment itself entered France on 7 October 1914 forming part of the 7th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division. The Squadron serving with the Composite Regiment of Household Cavalry re-joined the Regiment on 11 November 1914. On 10th March 1918 the Regiment was re-formed as the 3rd Battalion Guards Machine Gun Regiment.

Arthur James Mudd was born in Plaistow, Essex. A Musician by occupation, he attested for the 6th Dragoon Guards in London on 6 September 1897, aged 14 years, 9 months. The following year he was appointed a Bandsman and was ranked as a Trumpeter in November 1903 and Lance-Corporal in June 1908. He served overseas in South Africa, January 1901-August 1902 and in India, August 1902-November 1907. He was appointed to the 3rd Dragoon Guards on his return to England in November 1907 and continued to serve until September 1909 when he was discharged having completed his first period of service.

A month after his discharge, Mudd re-enlisted into the Royal Horse Guards. Appointed Trumpeter and Lance-Corporal the following year, he would take a prominent part in the 1911 Coronation ceremonies for which he was awarded the Coronation Medal. He was further promoted to Trumpeter Corporal of Horse just prior to his being sent to France on 3 October 1914. He continued to serve in France until September 1916, when he returned to England owing to whitlow of the right thumb, which was to keep him in hospital until December. He was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. in 1917 and finally discharged on 1 May 1919.

Note: research indicates that his is the only 1914 Star named to a ‘Trumpeter Corporal of Horse’.

With copied service papers, census extracts and other research.