Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant A. R. Wallace, General List, attached Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, late Royal Naval Reserve, who died of wounds in Mesopotamia on 18 January 1919

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. R. Wallace.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Reginald Wallace.) in card envelope of issue, plaque showing some light corrosion to reverse otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140

Arthur Reginald Wallace was born in Sydney, New South Wales in 1875. He was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 19 December 1914 and on 12 January 1915 was given command of the trawler Dale and appointed leader of a unit. On 1 August 1915 he applied for the command of a torpedo boat or for service in the Dardanelles but his application was denied due to the continuing needs of the Auxiliary Reserve Patrol and he was transferred in command of the trawler Onyx II on 2 February 1916. On 20 February 1916, Wallace was granted sick leave to undergo an operation, subsequent to which, on 6 July 1916, he was found unfit for further active service and his commission was cancelled on 21 July 1916.

Wallace’s improving health allowed him to serve once more and on 19 February 1917 he was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant, General List, attached Inland Water Transport. He served with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force from 19 May 1917 and died of wounds on 18 January 1919 in Mesopotamia. He is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.

Wallace’s Medal Index Card and the Royal Naval Reserve medal roll both confirm that Wallace’s British War and Victory Medals were issued by the War Office and that his 1914-15 Star (not present) was to be issued by the Adjutant-General of the Navy.