Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Private W. Payne, Devonshire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (4885 Pte. W. Payne. Devon: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4885 Pte. W. Payne. Devon: Regt.); British War and Victory Medals (200120 Pte. W. Payne. Devon. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (200120 Pte. W. Payne. 4/Devon: R.) edge bruising and contact marks to Boer War pair, these nearly very fine; the GVR awards good very fine (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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William Payne was born in Tiverton, Devon in 1879. A Blacksmith by occupation, he enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment at Exeter on 22 July 1897. Posted to the 2nd Battalion at Aldershot he embarked with the battalion in SS Manila at Southampton and disembarked at Durban, South Africa, on 19 November 1899, taking part in the actions at Colenso, Spion Kop, Monte Christo, Pieter’s Hill, Relief of Ladysmith and Botha’s Pass (Laing’s Nek). Returning to Aldershot with the 2nd Battalion on 21 May 1903 he transferred to the Reserve on 22 July 1904.

Taking up employment as a Mason’s Labourer in Tiverton and employed by Sir John Avery, Payne attested for the 4th (Territorial) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on 27 June 1910. Regularly attending annual camp he was embodied at the outbreak of the Great War on 5 August 1914. Qualifying as an Instructor at the Bombing School, Lyndhurst, he was posted to the Egypt Expeditionary Force and joined the 1/5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment on the Gaza Front on 6 September 1917, advancing with them through Palestine until their final action at Berukin on 9 April 1918. The battalion was then withdrawn and moved to France disembarking at Marseilles on 1 June 1918. Their first ‘Western Front’ action was at Ardre, during the Second Battle of Marne, on 20 July 1918, and their final action at Sambre on 8 November 1918. Disembodied on demobilisation at Exeter on 18 February 1919, he was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 148 of April 1920. Returning to Tiverton he resumed his occupation as Mason’s Labourer, and died on 27 September 1944, aged 63.

Sold with copied service records and other research.