The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups

Family Group:

Three: Major C. F. Wightman, Hertfordshire Regiment
British War and Victory Medals (Major C. F. Wightman.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major C. F. Wightman, Herts. R.) nearly extremely fine, the last rare to unit

Pair: Second Lieutenant W. P. Westwood, 6th Battalion attached 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was killed in action on 26 September 1917
British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W. P. Westwood.) nearly extremely fine (5) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups.

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One of only two Territorial Force War Medals recorded as having been issued to the Hertfordshire Regiment.

Cecil Frank Wightman served as Signalling Officer in the Hertfordshire Regiment, and later served as a Brigade Major on the Staff of 19th Division Head Quarters, landing in France in June 1916. His home address in 1921 was at The Old Palace, Royston, Herts. In civilian life he was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows Online carries the following entry:
‘Born at Bungay, Suffolk, 7 January 1870, the fifth son of Henry Wightman, draper, and his wife, née Hambling. He was educated at the Grammar Schools at Bungay and Great Yarmouth, before proceeding to St Bartholomew's Hospital. From the Hospital he passed the final examination for FRCS at the age of 23. He filled the offices of house surgeon at the Scarborough Hospital, at the Chichester Infirmary, and at the Bolton Infirmary. In 1896 he entered into general practice in Leicester, but soon moved to Cornwall Gardens, London, where he practised as a consultant. Failing health led him to settle at Royston in 1902, where he entered into partnership with Dr C W Windsor, and retired in 1926 when his eyesight began to fail. He acted for many years as surgeon to the Royston Hospital, and was instrumental in getting it enlarged as the Royston and District Hospital. During the war he served with the Hertfordshire Regiment, and retired with the rank of major. He died unmarried at the Old Palace, Royston on 4 May 1937, and was buried at Therfield, Royston, Herts. He left £100 to St Dunstan's Home for the Blind. Dr Wightman did much for Royston. He was a good churchman, being Vicar's warden 1917-1929, was interested in the Boy Scout movement, and was the mainstay of the Social Club, where he was president for many years, until he resigned the position in 1933.’

Sold with a copy of his publication First Aid in Accidents, published jointly with Sir John Collie, London, 1912 (this in very distressed condition with covers and binding detached, contents good); two period photographs including the recipient, one being a group photo of a prize presentation, and the other as driver of a vintage motor vehicle; with additional copied press cuttings, including a photograph, and obituary.

Walter Peter Westwood was the son of Mrs. Clara Westwood, of 43, Queen's Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, with his widowed mother remarrying Cecil Frank Wightman (see above). Westwood served in the ranks of the Suffolk Regiment as Colour Sergeant, but was commissioned prior to overseas service. He landed in France on 4 May 1917, and was killed in action on the 26 September 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.