Offered is a WW1 & WW2 medal group of 7, to Sapper Charles Watkin 6425 & 386425. He served in WW1 with the 4th Siege Company, Royal Engineers. It is probable that he served WW2 in the Engineers aswell.
1914-15 Star impressed named 6425 SPR. C.F. WATKIN. R.E.; War and Victory Medal impressed named 6425 SPR C.F.WATKIN. R.E; 1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence & War Medals. The WW2 medals are unnamed as issued.
The medals are period swing mounted as worn by the original owner. Comes with copy medal index card & medal rolls.
Unfortunately Charles records did not survive the Blitz. What is known is that he landed in France 13/12/1914 and discharged 28/4/1919. He had the regimental number of 6425 and when the Army was re numbered in 1917, he was given the number 386425.
The number block 386000-386999 was allocated to Siege Coys.4th SC RMRE. It is probable that he was an original member of the 4th Siege Coy as he landed in France on the same day as the unit arrived there.
No. 4 Siege Company in World War 1 from Low & Everett’s history of the Regiment.
A war-time Coy., authorized 26th August, 1914, formed 14thSeptember, 1914.
To Chatham 18th November, 1914.
Embarked Southampton 13th December, 1914 for B.E.F.
This Coy. was the first of the war-time Coys. raised by R.M.R.E. On landing - after a short period under C.R.E. G.H.Q. troops - the unit was posted to V Corps as Corps troops at Ypres and worked in area of"Hill 60." For the next two years and eight months it served continuously in the salient of Ypres. During this long period its tasksfollowed the usual pattern for Corps troops, R.E.
It was in the vicinity of the first German gas attack in the spring of 1915, but seems to have escaped without any casualties.
The Coy. greatly distinguished itself at the Battle ofMessines, June, 1917. An immediate award of the M.C. was made to Capt. Crawford-Clarke (2 i/c). In late 1917 the Coy. for a short time moved from 2nd Army Area to 1st Army Area and then was withdrawn to the L. of C. for a period. Early in 1918 it was moved to Nancy in the French zone and was employed on the erection of hutting for the R.A.F. whose special task was the bombing of the Ruhr. At this time the “endurance" of loaded bombers would not allow them to reach the Ruhr from the British zone.
The late summer of 1918 found the Coy. back in Northern France, where it took part in the final advance to the Armistice line of 11th November, 1918.
This fine Coy. was recruited from the first rush of men who responded to Kitchener's call for 100,000 men - "The first hundred thousand." They enlisted for the duration of the war and were magnificent material. No.4 suffered more fatal casualties - 31 - more than any other R.M.R.E.Coy. Several decorations and mentions in dispatches were awarded to officers and other ranks.
About September, 1917, on leaving X Corps, the unit received a special commendation. C.E., X Corps (Major General Tulloch, lateR.E.) wrote:- "On leaving the Corps, the Chief Engineer wishes to thankthe 4th Siege Coy. R.M.R.E. for the good work they have done during the twoyears and eight months they were in the Ypres salient, which constituted arecord for any unit, and the 4th Siege Company have reason to be proud of theirfine performances. Their contribution towards the success of the operations hasalready been referred to by the Corps Commander, and I am glad to think thatthe traditions of the Royal Engineers have been so well upheld by this fine‘Special Reserve’ unit."
The Company was disbanded in France and the cadre reached Monmouth on 20th June, 1919.
Sapper Watkin’s medals are a fine example of a soldier who actively served in 2 World Wars.
