Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Army Best Shot Medal awarded to Warrant Officer Class II P. N. Walbridge, Small Arms School Corps

Army Best Shot Medal, G.VI.R., 1 clasp, 1938 (6910922 W.O. Cl.II. P. N. Walbridge. S. Arms Sch.) officially impressed naming; together with the recipient’s Army Rifle Association Medal, silver gilt, with 5 clasps, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, unnamed, with top silver-gilt riband buckle, nearly extremely fine, rare (2) £1,200-£1,600

The Army Best Shot Medal, sometimes known as the ‘Queen’s Medal’, was instituted in 1869 and continued to be awarded until 1882. The award of the medal was revived in 1923 (as the ‘King’s Medal’), differing from the earlier version in having a clasp(s) bearing the year of award(s). During the period 1923-34, a single medal was competed for by 50 members of the Regular Army and 50 members of the Territorial Army. Certain Commonwealth countries also competed for a separate Medal. From 1935 onwards, the home forces competed for two medals, one for the Regular Army and one for the Territorial Army. With the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, the award was again known as the ‘Queen’s Medal’ and the recipient referred to as the ‘Queen’s Medallist’.

P. N. Walbridge transferred to the Small Arms School Corps from the Rifle Brigade in July 1931 and served as a Company Sergeant Major Instructor. He served during the Second World War with the British Expeditionary Force in France, and was evacuated from Dunkirk. Appointed to a commission, he was the last recipient of the King’s Medal until the Championship was reinstated in 1947.