An Unusual
"OLD CONTEMPTIBLE"
MILITARY MEDAL.
1914 Star & Bar
with War Medal (3).


To:
20666. Pte E. TIDESWELL. 24th Machine Gun Corps.
Previously, 9796. Pte E. TIDSWELL 1st N.Staffs Regt.

[MILITARY MEDAL]
24th Machine Gun Corps]
L.G. 13th September 1918.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Pte E. TIDESWELL was a pre-war regular soldier who joined the army in about June or July of 1912. He is an interesting and later decorated 1st North Staffs early B.E.F. soldier who arrived in France on 10th September 1914 just over one month after the declaration. Via his gallant service and decoration with 24th M.G.C. he represents a very rare example of a pre-war regular who survived the entire Great War.

Very few members of the "Old Contemptible" regular British Army who went to France in late 1914 managed to survive the entire war with great numbers being lost by the end of 1916.

The group is itself also a 'miracle' survivor as it turned up in three parts over the period of over a month !!...and the original Victory Medal which is currently still absent could yet show up. The MM and War Medal are both named to 'TIDESWELL' as is his second M.I.C. which records both his war medal & victory medals to 9796 Pte E. TIDESWELL. His 1914 Star is in the name of Pte E. TIDSWELL ('E' omitted) and has another separate & supporting M.I.C. (Just for the star) with that spelling.

The group is overall VF+ as it's been quite rightly & proudly worn by the recipient. The MM is AVF with contact marks from the star points and has some edge bruising mainly to the lower obverse rim, but naming is totally full and clear as usual. The 1914 Star & War medal are GVF on original ribbons. The original victory medal which is currently absent is represented by an erased blank.

£595