The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. W. J. D. Harding) edge bruise to reverse, nearly extremely fine £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Lieutenant Wyndham John Dorney Harding, General List, was employed in the Office of the Deputy Chief Field Censor at Boulogne, A.P.O./3, B.E.F. It was in this capacity that a M.O.5a report, dated 14 November 1915 concerning him was made which questioned his loyalty:

‘We have received a certain amount of information about this person which, although it is not sufficed to throw suspicion on his loyalty, ought perhaps to be known to you in view of his present occupation.

He is believed to have been educated in Germany, he knows German well, and appears also to have German friends. He has certainly been once, and it believed twice, to Holland since war began. He is reported to have said that on one occasion he crossed the frontier into Germany. ... At the time when war broke out, he called at the Territorial Offices in Gloucestershire and asked a number of questions about military matters. His manner aroused suspicion and no information was given to him. He has been a good deal in India and was at one time in the employ of the Gaekwar of Barodia. He appears to have been very hard up at different times. ....’

After taking up references, M.O.5a concluded, ‘There does not appear to be any need for further action.’, this signed on behalf of Lieutenant-Colonel V. G. Kell.

M.O.5, the War Office’s Intelligence Department, was created in 1907, for special duties which included protective security, cyphers and code, and censorship of posts and telegraphs. M.O.5 also had a small counter-espionage branch, comprising two or three officers under Vernon Kell.

For his wartime services Harding was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 24 December 1917) and was awarded the M.B.E.. On 1 November 1919 he relinquished his commission whilst retaining his rank of Lieutenant.

With copied M.O.5 report and other research.