Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Fireman Percy Halford, Birmingham Fire Brigade, late Private, 4th Dragoon Guards

1914 STAR (5422 Pte., 4/D.Gds.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (4DG-5422 Pte., 4-D.Gds.); A.P.F.B.O. LONG SERVICE, silver (Fireman, 1926); BIRMINGHAM FIRE BRIGADE LONG SERVICE, silver, 1 bar, 20 years (Fireman, 1933) together with 4th Royal Irish D. Guards cap badge, extremely fine (6)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Mike Minton.

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Percy Halford was born in Dublin, 1888, and joined the Birmingham Fire Brigade on 26 June 1913. He was called up to join the Army Reserve and left the fire service on 4 August 1914. Halford was reported missing in the Daily Mail, 5 October 1914. He had in fact been taken prisoner and was interned at Gressen in Germany. It is possible that he was captured during or after the famous cavalry charge made by the 4th Dragoon Guards and the 9th Lancers on 24 August 1914, against massed German Infantry, when, as they were subjected to a severe fire from three sides, grievous losses occurred. Captain F.O. Grenfell, 9th Lancers, won the Victoria Cross shortly after this charge, for assisting to save the guns of the 119th Battery, R.F.A. The 4th Dragoon Guards were the first British Cavalry in action during the War when 'C' Squadron charged a party of Uhlan cavalry, killing eight without loss. Halford rejoined the Birmingham Fire Service on 2 June 1919, and served at King's Norton Station. He finally retired on 4 February 1945.