Special Collections
Create new listThree: Private W. H. Baguley, Manchester Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War in Mesopotamia; he later served in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps as part of the B.E.F., and died at home after the Dunkirk evacuation
General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (62333 Pte. W. H. Baguley. Manch R.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, minor edge bruising to first, otherwise better than very fine (3) £140-£180
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 Henry Baguley was born at Runcorn, Cheshire, in December 1900 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment in January 1919. He served for a few months with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion but was posted to 2nd Battalion on 16 October 1919. His battalion was under orders for service in Mesopotamia and sailed from Tibury on 13 February 1920. His battalion served at Tikrit, Hillah and Baghdad with the ‘Manchester Column’, and Baguley was one of those taken prisoner of the Arabs at Hillah; eventually after several months of forced marches and harsh treatment at Najef, the prisoners were handed over to the British Army on 19 October 1920. Following his release he remained with his battalion and was sent to India until he returned to the U.K. ‘time expired’ on 3 December 1925.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Baguley re-enlisted into the Manchester Regiment but was posted to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, many of whom served in France with the B.E.F., including Baguley. He was posted to No. 54 Company, A.M.P.C. as acting Sergeant on 4 January 1940 and was one of those who made it to the beaches at Dunkirk and returned to the U.K. on 2 June 1940. He died in the U.K. on 3 May 1941 of ‘natural causes’, no doubt exacerbated by his time in France in the B.E.F., and is buried in Warrington Cemetery.
Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.
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