Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War B.E.M., M.S.M. group of seven awarded to Acting Chief Inspector J. Chaffin, War Department Constabulary, late Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (John Chaffin); 1914-15 Star (9148 Cpl. J. Chaffin. D. of Corn: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (9148 Sjt. J. Chaffin. D. of Corn. L.I.) unit partially corrected on VM; Defence Medal; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (5429139 W.O. Cl.II. J. Chaffin. D.C.L.I.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 3rd issue (5421939 W.O. Cl.I. J. Chaffin. D.C.L.I.) edge bruising, contact marks and polishing to Great War medals, these good fine, the remainder good very fine (7) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 2 January 1950.

John Chaffin was born in the Parish of Kingsland, near Southampton, on 29 March 1890. A labourer by trade, he attested for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 19 October 1908 and served as a Private in South Africa from 10 February 1910 to 21 December 1912. Transferred to Hong Kong, he returned home to England on 20 September 1914 and joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 19 December 1914. Raised Acting Sergeant two months later, his Army Service Record notes that he received a bullet wound to the right arm on 13 May 1915. Evacuated across the Channel, this marked the end of his Great War campaign.

Remaining in the service of the D.C.L.I., Chaffin was awarded his 1st Class Certificate of Education at Ballykinlar in Northern Ireland on 5 April 1921. Posted to Egypt in March 1922, he was appointed Acting R.S.M. at the Small Arms School (Pachmarhi) in 1929 and permitted to continue in the service beyond 21 years soon thereafter. He finally took his discharge at his own request in 1935 and settled with his wife and son in Nottingham. Taking employment as a Constable in the city’s police force, he later served with the War Department Constabulary at Woolwich during the Second World War. Promoted Acting Chief Inspector in May 1941, he returned to Didcot (Berkshire) in March 1945 and was recognised for his valuable service with the War Department Constabulary in the New Year’s Honours List of 1950.

Sold with the recipient’s original warrant for promotion to Warrant Officer Class II; and a file of copied research.