Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Eleven: Warrant Officer Class 2 F. Wylde, Royal Horse Artillery, afterwards an Office Keeper in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace

1914 Star, with clasp (26463 Cpl., R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (W.O. Cl. 2, R.A.); Defence Medal; Royal Victorian Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., dated 1913-1933, with ‘Thirty Years’ and ‘Forty Years’ Bars (F. Wylde); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (191770 B.S. Mjr., R.G.A.); Special Constabulary Faithful Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage head, with ‘Long Service 1942’ Bar (Sergt.), the earlier awards polished, about very fine, the remainder rather better, a superb long service combination (11) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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See Colour Plate IX

Frederick (Theophilous) Wylde was born in Wandsworth, London in May 1886 and served in the Royal Horse Artillery between 1903-12, in which latter year he was discharged and entered the Royal Household as a gatekeeper in the Royal Mews.

Re-enlisting in the Royal Horse Artillery on the outbreak of hostilities, he arrived in France with ‘I’ Battery, R.H.A., part of 7th Brigade, in mid-August 1914, and saw extensive action over the coming months, not least at Nery on 1 September 1914, when its guns came into action in an attempt to defend the gallant men of ‘L’ Battery, three of whom won the V.C. that day.

In December 1917, Wylde transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery, and was mentioned in despatches in May 1918 and awarded the M.S.M. for services as a Battery Sergeant-Major with ‘B’ A.A. Battery in France just after the War (London Gazette 3 June 1919).

Returning to his former job in the Royal Household, Wylde was appointed an Office Keeper in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in October 1923 and remained so employed until his retirement in September 1955. In addition to qualifying for the Royal Household Faithful Service Medal with two Bars, he was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in June 1943. He died in February 1970.