An Interesting Private Purchase of a WW1 Army Service Corps & WW2 Merchant Navy Medal Group (1st time on the market) awarded to M-27312 Pte F. W. T. Cotton.

This medal group, awarded to Frederick Walter Thomas Cotton, was recently acquired by us from the great grandson of Frederick Cotton, so this is the first time the medals have been offered on the open market.

Frederick was born on the 20th of December 1889 at Clerkenwell, Nr Islington, North London. At the outbreak of WW1, Frederick joined the ranks of the Army Service Corps, disembarking France on the 12th of August 1914, with the 2nd Divisional Signal Company. He survived the War and worked as a Carman (delivery driver) for a variety of local Islington based companies, and then as a London bus driver, where he apparently spent a short period of time driving the buses during the Blitz. Frederick then decided to pursue a career at sea and joined the Merchant Navy where he served in the Atlantic Convoys and the Far East. As with so many military personnel of that era, Frederick seldomly spoke about his experiences during either of the Wars.

Frederick’s great grandson, Ian, from whom I purchased this medal group, informed me that a cousin of Fredericks, Albert Stratton, was a charger with the 9th Lancers during WW1 (probably at the Battle of the Mons). During the charge, Albert was shot through the shoulder, with the bullet exiting from his hip, knocking him unconscious, whilst still on his mount. With both of his feet stuck in the stirrups and slumped over his mount, it about turned and galloped back towards the British lines, effectively saving Alberts life. This story made the news back home towards the end of 1914, appearing in an edition of The Times, no less.

Frederick passed away on the 25th of April 1959, and was cremated at the Islington Crematorium, East Finchley.

The photocopy image of Frederick wearing his WW1 medal trio, and the front copy of the Order of Service, were supplied from the original items which remain with the family.

The medals are individually mounted on safety pins for wear, sold with the original WW2 named/address O.H.M.S box of issue and award slip, some copied research, and are as follows -

British War & Victory Medals, M-27312 PTE. F. W. T. COTTON. A. S. C.; 1939/45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star, clasp, BURMA (original clasp), all unnamed as issued.

Condition, WW1 Pair - BWM appears to have been Rhodium plated at some point, which has flaked in places, both polished, thus good fine. WW2 set, good very fine and better

Frederick is also entitled to the 1914 Star with clasp and rosette, this sadly missing from the group.