The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay

The superb Great War ‘Long Service’ group of ten to Company Sergeant Major Charles Wilkinson, 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the Western Front in September 1914

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4170 Pte., 1/North’d Fus.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4170 Cpl., North’d Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4170 Serjt., North’d. Fus.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (4170 Sergt., 1st Bn. North’d. Fus.); 1914 Star, with clasp (4170 C. S. Mjr., 1/North’d. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (4170 W.O.Cl.2., North’d. Fus.); Delhi Durbar 1911, the edge with contemporary impressed naming ‘No. 4170 Cr. Sergt. C. Wilkinson, 1/5th Fus.’; Army L.S & G.C., G.V.R., type 1 (4170 C. Sjt., Nth’ld. Fus.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp (4170 Pte., 5th Fusers.); together with memorial plaque (Charles Wilkinson) the K.S.A. with re-pinned suspension claw, some medals with contact wear, therefore generally nearly very fine and better and a rare combination of awards (11) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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Charles Wilkinson was born in Kensington, London and enlisted at Hounslow, Middlesex. He served in France and Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers from 13 August 1914 and was killed in action there on 16 September 1914, when three high explosive shells burst in the trench in which he and his company were situated. At the time of his death he was 37 years of age. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

The following is extracted from The Fifth in The Great War, by Brigadier H. R. Sandilands, CMG, DSO:

‘Wilkinson had served in campaigns with the Battalion in the Sudan, South Africa, and the N.W. Frontier and his handsome features and soldierly bearing marked him for the model of the Fifth Fusilier that may be seen today surmounting one of the silver bells in the Officers’ Mess of the 1st Battalion.’