The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment

Six: Lieutenant (Quartermaster) W. J. Welch, Manchester Regiment

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Burma 1930-32 (3514547 Sjt. W. J. Welch. Manch.) a later issue with non-swivelling suspension, with named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (3514547 W.O. Cl. 2. W. J. Welch. Manch.) with named card box of issue, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (6) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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William Joseph Welch was born at Greenwich, London, on 5 December 1901 and enlisted as a Private into the Manchester Regiment on 30 September 1920. He embarked for India with 2nd Battalion on 28 September 1921, and was promoted Corporal on 17 May 1927 and Sergeant on 18 November 1927. He served throughout the campaign in Burma in 1930-32. Returning to the U.K. he was promoted Warrant Officer Class 2, and Company Sergeant Major on 19 March 1936 and in April 1939 was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Welch was appointed Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant and on 13 January 1940 as Regimental Sergeant Major. In 1942 he went to East Africa, being posted to 46th (Tanganyika Territories) Battalion King’s African Rifles, but was commissioned Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the Manchester Regiment on 6 September 1942, remaining attached 46th K.A.R., with which he served in India and Burma. He returned to the U.K. in July 1945 and was released from service in October 1945. Following the war he moved from Oldham, returning to Greenwich, where he died on 6 May 1971.

Sold with copied service papers and other research, including medal roll extract for the IGS that states that a replacement IGS was issued in April 1950.