Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War K.P.F.S.M. for Distinguished Service and Great War ‘Murmansk’ M.S.M. group of eight awarded to Chief Fire Officer E. F. Batchford, Reading Borough Fire Brigade, late Acting Warrant Officer Class II, Royal Army Ordnance Corps

King’s Police and Fire Service Medal, G.VI.R., for Distinguished Service (Ernest F. Batchford, Div. Off. 15 (Reading) Fire Force); British War and Victory Medals (01181 A. W. O. Cl. 2. E. F. Batchford. A.O.C.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (01181 S.Sjt - A. S.Q.M. Sjt - E. F. Batchford. R.A.O.C.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Association of Professional Fire Brigade Officers Long Service Medal (Second Officer E. F. Batchford - 1938.); National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, with clasps for ‘Twenty Years’ and ‘Five Years’ (4500 Ernest F. Batchford); Defence Medal, mounted for wear in this order, the Defence Medal loose, contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (8) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Royal Berkshire Collection.

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K.P.F.S.M. London Gazette, 31 December 1946.

M.S.M. London Gazette, 3 October 1919.

Ernest Francis Batchford was born in Gloucester on 5 May 1893. A Fireman serving with Gloucester Fire Brigade since 1912, he attested for the Army Ordnance Corps for service during the Great War, and was appointed Acting Company Sergeant Major. His Meritorious Service Medal, awarded for Murmansk, was one of just seven such awards to his Corps. Discharged to the Reserve on 1 October 1919, he moved to Reading Fire Service where, he was later appointed Divisional Fire Officer. His King’s Police and Fire Service Medal was presented to him on 1 April 1947 by Mr. H. A. Benyon, Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, at Caversham Fire Station. He died in Reading, Berkshire, aged 72, on 23 June 1965.

Sold together with a Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes medal named to the recipient.