E135
Born in Wolverhampton, Alfred Flowers served in the Great War in France and Flanders where he was killed in action.
His award of the Meritorious Service Medal was recorded in the November 11, 1916, London Gazette. The February
15, 1917,
issue carried his citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. He continuously moved about while an advanced position was being consolidated in total disregard of heavy and
accurate sniping at close range, and owing to casualties, commanding and maintaining his position for three days."
Flowers is listed as killed in action on September 30, 1917. Flowers' 5-place medal group is plated and court-mounted.
Included on the mount are: Distinguished Conduct Medal impressed on the rim, "8152 SJT. A. FLOWERS. 1/S. STAFF:
R."; 1914 Star impressed, "8152 / L CPL A. FLOWER [no "S"] / 1/S. STAFF: R." and mounted with a Mons bar; War
Medal engraved on rim, "8152 W.O. CL. 2. A. FLOWERS. S. STAFF. R."; Victory Medal is also engraved with the
same information; and finally, the Meritorious Service Medal medal is impressed, "8152 SJT: A FLOWERS. 1/S.
STAFF: R." Note that the War Medal and Victory medals, though they appear to be impressed at first glance, are
engraved. I suspect these are later additions to the group. In fact, Flowers' medal roll index cards confirm his receipt
of the the DSM, MSM, 1914 Star and a Victory Medal, but they clearly indicate he did NOT receive a War Medal.
Similarly, I could find no documentation of his achieving a rank beyond sergeant. Perhaps, a family member, in their
grief over the Flowers' death, made a "jeweler's promotion," though I suspect it was actually an overzealous collector
who made a research error, not realizing Flowers had been killed in 1917. In any event, medals are very impressively
plated and mounted. Back of the mount is tightly covered in red cloth and has a large, German silver pin with
turret-style catch. Medals appear to have had very little wear prior to plating. II
$1875
British WWI Medal Group: A. Flowers, DCM, MSM, South Staffordshire Regiment
E136
Arthur Wynton Langley was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on July 15, 1903. From
September 27, 1914, to November 11, 1918, he served in France and Belgium as a staff officer. After the war, we was
made a brigade major of the Heavy Artillery in 19th Army Corps, British Armies in France, a rank he held until
December 3, 1919. In 1920, he was temporarily elevated to General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade of the Northern
Command. During his service, he was mentioned in dispatches on three occasions. He was gazetted for the Military
Cross on June 3, 1916; the Distinguished Service Order on June 4, 1917, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre on September
4, 1919.
The medals on his six-place mount have been polished and plated. They are court mounted with a black
cotton backing and ready to hang from a German silver suspension pin and C-catch. The Distinguished Service Order
planchet has not been plated though the suspension bars are plated. The Cross exhibits a warm patina. The green and
red enamel is intact. The Military Cross is unnamed. The 1914 Star with Mons Clasp star is has some abrasions on the
reverse and is impressed, "LIEUT. A.W. LANGLEY. / R.G.A." The War Medal and Victory Medal (with Palm) are
impressed, "MAJOR. A.W. LANGLEY." Also included on the mount is an unnamed Belgian Croix d Guerre. The WWI
trio shows heavy wear under the plating but display very well.
$1975
British WWI Medal Group: Arthur Wynton Langley, DSO, MC, Royal Garrison Artillery
E137
Born in 1884, Brian Winwood Robinson was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Lancashire Royal Garrison
Artillery (Militia) on May 9, 1903. Two years later, on November 29, he was commissioned in the 5th (Royal Irish)
Lancers, a unit with which he was still serving when he left for France in 1914, then a captain. He was wounded in
November 1914. When he returned to service August 1915, it was as a Brigade Major in the 3rd Cavalry Brigade. He
retired from service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with seniority dating from May 9, 1918. He was gazetted for
"
gallant and distinguished services" on January 1, 1916. Robinson's Medal Roll index card notes he returned his Victory
Medal in September 1920 for replacement. It also notes, in length that he was eligible for the 1914 Star and Clasp.
The notes refer to him as "Lt. Col. Robinson, MC". His four-place medal group has been plated and court mounted
with a black cotton backing and German silver pin with a full turret-style catch. His Military Cross is beautifully
marked on the reverse, "CAPT. B W. ROBINSON / 5TH LANCERS. / FEBRUARY 1915." The reverse exhibits some
lifting of the plating, though it does not seriously detract. The 1914 Star with Clasp is impressed on the reverse,
"
LIEUT: / B.W. ROBINSON. / 5/LRS." The War Medal and Victory Medal (with plated palm) are impressed, "LT.
COL. B.W. ROBINSON." This is a superior MC grouping that appears to offer significant research opportunities, II
$2895
British WWI Medal Group: Brian Winwood Robinson, MC, 5th Royal Irish Lancers
E138
Holding the rank of Lance Corporal, David Duncan landed at Boulogne, France, on August 14, 1914. His unit, the 2nd
Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, first served as Line of Communications troops and would remain in
France and Flanders for the duration. In 1919, he was posted to the Depot after having risen to rank of Sergeant
Major of A Company. In October 1923, he was reposted to the 2nd Battalion. He rose to rank of Regimental Sergeant
Major in July 1924. On May 1, 1927, he relinquished his rank, and presumably, retired from the service. His Medal
Roll index card indicates he retired with the rank of Warrant Officer, Class I. He was gazetted for the Military Medal
on October 11, 1916, and for the Military Cross on January 11, 1918. His six-place medal group has been plated and
court mounted with a red cotton backing and German silver pin with a turret-style catch. His Military Cross is
beautifully marked on the reverse, "No 10012. / C.S.M. DAVID DUNCAN / 2ND A. & S. H." His Military Medal is
nicely impressed on the rim, "10012 SJT: D. DUNCAN. 2/A.&S. HDRS:" The 1914 Star with Clasp is impressed on
the reverse, "10012 / L. CPL. D. DUNCAN. / 2/A. & S. HIGHRS." The War Medal and Victory Medal (with unplated
palm) are impressed, "10012. W.O. CL. 1. D. DUNCAN. A. & S. H." Finally, his Army Long Service and Good
Conduct Medal is impressed, "10012. W.O. CL. 1. D. DUNCAN. (M.C. M.M) A. & S. H." Extremely good looking
mount that is a worthy tribute to a Highlander. It will be interesting to uncover more of his long career, II
$3745
British WWI Medal Group: David Duncan, MC, MM, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders
E139
Sergeant (later Major) H.V. Bradford served with the 23rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, when, in 1916, he
received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry. His citation reads, "On no less than 11 separate
occasions, he went out under heavy shell fire and repaired battery telephone wires, displaying great skill and bravery in
the performance of his duty." Hugh Voce Bradford's medal roll card indicates he was entitled to the MC, DCM,
1914-15
Star, War Medal and Victory Medal. It also indicates we was later promoted to Major. Bradford's six-place
medal bar is court mounted and plated. The Military Cross is engraved on the back, "LIEUT: (Act. MAJOR) H.V.
BRADFORD, / D.C.M. / Royal Garrison Artillery." His Distinguished Conduct Medal is impressed on the rim, "18686
SJT: H.V. BRADFORD. 23 / SG: BTY: R.G.A." 1914-15 Star is impressed on reverse, "18686 / SJT. H.V. BRADFORD.
/
R.G.A." The War and Victory Medals are both impressed, "MAJOR H.V. BRADFORD." The mount concludes with
an unnamed, silver 1937 Coronation Medal. The medals are beautifully court-mounted with a red cloth backing and
can be suspended from one large, German nickel pin with a turret catch. Very fine group that is ready for display, II
$4250
British WWI Medal Group: H.V. Bradford, MC, DCM, Royal Garrison Artillery
