Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The exceptional long service and M.S.M. group of thirteen awarded to Major F. J. Woollen, late Gloucester and Dorset Regiments, and Indian Army Ordnance Department, for many years a Yeoman of the Queen’s Body Guard

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (5739 Boy F. J. Woolen, Gloucester Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5739 Boy: F. J. Woollen Glouc: Regt.) renamed; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1908, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (5739 Lce. Sergt. F. W. Woollen. 1st Bn. Glouc. Regt.) note incorrect second initial; 1914-15 Star (S. Sergt. F. J. Woollen, S. & T. Corps.); British War and Victory Medals (9593 A.W.O. Cl. 1 F. J. Woollen. Dorset R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (Staff Sergt. F. J. Woollen S. & T. Corps); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (5718196 W.O. Cl. 1 F. J. Woollen. I.A.O.C.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (13) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Yeomen of the Guard formed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Denny.

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Francis James Woollen was born at Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on 20 December 1884, his father a Colour-Sergeant in the 4th Battalion of the Gloucester Regiment. He himself also attested for the Gloucester Regiment at Dublin on 11 December 1899, aged 15 years. He served in South Africa from 17 October 1900 to 26 August 1901, and, as recorded in his discharge papers, was wounded at Dewetsdorp on 23 November 1900. His medal entitlement appears to be the Queen’s Medal with clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and South Africa 1901. He is not entitled to the King’s Medal nor the clasp for Defence of Ladysmith.

Woollen returned to South Africa in April 1903, where he was promoted to Corporal in May 1903, and returned home the following October and was appointed Lance-Sergeant in April 1906. In February 1906 he went to India with his regiment and subsequently took part in the operations of the Mohmand Field Force in the early part of 1908 (Medal with clasp). He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1908 and transferred to the Indian Unattached List for service with the S. & T. Corps in the 1st Peshawur Division from November 1909. He transferred to the 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in the Poona Division, in May 1910, and re-engaged at Karachi for 2/R.W.F, in December 1910, to complete 21 years. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in May 1912, and transferred to the 2nd Dorsets in September 1913, serving with that regiment on the North West Frontier 1915-17, in command of a supply depot. His L.S. & G.C. medal was announced in Indian Army Order 521 of 1918. He was on Field Service with the N.W.F.F. (Afghanistan), June to August 1919 (Clasp to India Medal). Woollen was discharged on 11 October 1921. He was awarded the M.S.M. in Army Order 161 of 1936, without annuity, as a Yeoman of the King’s Body Guard. He died at Leeds on 29 May 1975 and is described as a Retired Army Major.

An accompanying news cutting shows him being presented to the Queen, and a newspaper Obituary Notice describes him as ‘Major (late 1st 6th Gurkhas and a Member of the Queen’s Body Guard). Sold with copied discharge papers and two small photographs of the recipient.