tillymint90210 Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 Just a quick question, well a few actually! I have just been shown a medal that i believe to be a British War Medal, with King George V on one side and ST George on horseback on the other. Inscription along the edge shows: 1453 PTE. W. UNWIN S.LAN.R Can I ask what does the 1453 refer to? and the S.LAN.R - does this mean South Lancs Regiment? Would be so grateful is this is my grandfather and i am trying to find out all i can . ALso saw a Terresse pocket compass, which i have been told was an officers compass and it has the arrow on the front. How would a Private have come by an officers compass or were Privates given them also? Thank you for any advice Tilly x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 It sounds like a British War Medal. 1453 Pte. William Unwin has a medal index card indicating that he was a pre war regular. 2nd Battalion South Lancashires, arrived in France 8th October 1914. Should also have a 1914 Star and Victory medal. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in October 1916. Seems to have survived the war. BillyH. edit : was he William Albert Unwin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 30 October , 2013 Share Posted 30 October , 2013 On 31/10/2013 at 00:35, tillymint90210 said: ...ALso saw a Terresse pocket compass, which i have been told was an officers compass and it has the arrow on the front. How would a Private have come by an officers compass or were Privates given them also? Have a look at: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tillymint90210 Posted 31 October , 2013 Author Share Posted 31 October , 2013 thanks yes i know about the comments on my other posts about the compass, just trying to understand why a private would have an officers compass. BillyH thank you so much for that info, very valuable, precious info indeed. Indeed he was William Albert Unwin, he was my grandfather, lived til 1972 with 10 or more children, so alot of people owe their lives to him!! He was injured very badly at some point and sent home to England, maybe something to do with liver or kidney, i forget which. was told he had a huge scar that ran right around his middle, more or less all the way round his waist. Good to find out more about him, thank you, that is very kind of you to look him up. Thank you x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 31 October , 2013 Share Posted 31 October , 2013 Why did he have the compass ? To quote Pte Cooney DCM of the Coldstream Guards "I have a solid silver watch I got from a German officer, but he does not need it now.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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