Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Honorary Captain A. P. Lunam, Royal Air Force, late Welsh Regiment and 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. A. P. Lunam); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd small reverse letter issue (971 C. Sgt. A. P. Lunan, Welsh R.) note minor variation in surname, good very fine (4) £900-1100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Medals to the Sherwood Foresters.

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M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918. ‘Temp./Qtr. Master & Hon. Lieut., Notts. & Derby. Regiment’

Arthur Patrick Lunam was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A Baker by occupation, he attested for the 24th Infantry Brigade at Aldershot on 10 November 1877, aged 14 years, 10 months. Posted as a Boy in the 41st (Welsh) Regiment, he became a Private in January 1880 and attained the rank of Colour Sergeant in April 1888. With the regiment he served in Natal, December 1881-May 1885; Mauritius, May-October 1885; South Africa, October 1885-May 1886; Egypt, May 1886-August 1889, and Malta, August 1889-August 1890. As an Acting Sergeant-Major, he was discharged to a pension on 14 July 1908. He was awarded the Long Service medal in January 1898 - this was his only medallic award prior to his discharge. He re-enlisted on 3 October 1914 into the 7th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry but was discharged to a commission on 23 March 1915. He was commissioned into the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment as a Lieutenant Quartermaster. In February 1916 he was transferred to the 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and on 6 March 1916 embarked with them for France. For his services with the battalion he was awarded the M.C. On 30 January 1918 he was transferred to the 14th Convalescent Camp as Captain (Quartermaster) and Adjutant. On 1 April 1918 he was gazetted into the R.A.F. as Lieutenant (Honorary Captain). He relinquished his commission in the R.A.F. owing to ill health on 23 May 1919; he also relinquished his commission in the army. Awarded the Silver War Badge (not with lot). Lunam died on 14 September 1934. With copied research.