Born c. 1836. Enlisted 12th Oct. 1853 at Westminster. The 82nd was employed on routine garrison duties in England and was under orders for India when war broke out between Russia and Turkey at the end of 1853. In 1854 England declared war on Russia, and the 82nd stayed at home and served as a draft-finding unit for others ordered to the Crimea. Finally, in January, 1855, the regiment was ordered to the Crimea. They landed at Balaclava on the 4th of September and were in position with the First Brigade of Lieutenant General Markham's Second Division on the Balaclava Heights for the Fall of Sebastopol on the 8th of September 1855.

The regiment returned home after the Crimean War. In 1857 they were stationed at Aldershot when they were ordered to proceed to the Far East as one of four regiments selected as the advance guard of a British Force (along with the French) being sent to China in reaction to a long series of treaty violations, various attacks on foreigners, and general insolence. The regiment (48 officers and 896 rank and file) embarked at Portsmouth for China in the troop ship "Assistance" and in H.M.S. "Adventure" on the 20th of May 1857.

A Casualty Boer War Pair to 4788 Private T. Welsh, Devon Regiment. QSA, 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal; KSA, 1901-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902.

Born 2 March 1890 at Devonport, Devon and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy on 16 July 1906 age 16 years. Leading Seaman in HMS. 'Challenger' from 30 July 1914 to 30 Dec. 1915.  At the start of the war she was part of the 9th Cruiser Squadron, based at Portland. Her duty was to guard against minelayers at the entrance to the Bristol Channel, and also to seize German shipping. During this period she captured the German steamer Ulla Boog, bringing a cargo of pit props from Archangel to south Wales. In September she was sent to West Africa, to form part of the naval squadron assisting the attack on the Cameroons (with HMS Cumberland and the French cruiser Bruix). On 25 September she was used to cross the barrier at the entrance to Duala, having been lightened to reduce her draft. Two days later Duala surrendered, but the campaign went on into 1915. By January 1915, she was engaged in the blockade of Edea. At the end of April, she was relieved by the Astraea

Commissioned Gunner from 31 December 1915, and  Mate from 11th  December 1917. Served on Torpedo boat TB108 in 1916, then Destroyers. Lieutenant from 11 May 1920: Placed on Retired List at own request 15 December 1922.Promoted Lieutenant-Commander (Retd.) from 11 May 1928: Recalled to duty during World War Two and served as Boom Defence Officer Alexandria and Benghazi??

                                                                                                                                                                                                             1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal (1004 Private E. Diaper, Leinster Regt). Memorial Plaque (Edward Diaper)

Private Edward Diaper 'A' Company, 6th Battalion, Leinster Regiment was Killed in Action 10th August 1915 during the defence of  Rhododendron Ridge, Gallipoli.

“The plan for bolstering the Gallipoli landings called for 29 Brigade, including 6th Leinsters, to he sent to Anzac to reinforce the corps already there, so that fresh attempts could be made to break out of die narrow beach head. The remainder of the division was to land at Suvla in support of 11th Division and to drive inland seizing the high ground that dominated the peninsula. On the afternoon of the 5th August 1915 the 6th Leinsters and the other battalions of 29 Brigade, set sail from Lemnos; such were the concerns about security that the battalion and brigade commanders did not know precisely where they were bound. Troops with less than a years training and no combat experience were committed to a landing at night on an unknown shore with minimal control being exercised by senior commanders.

The battalion strength was 25 officers and 745 men. They disembarked at around 04.00 on the 6th August and went into crude dugouts burrowed into of gullies leading off the beach. The following day 6th Leinsters were detached from their parent brigade and sent to support the Australian Light Horse at Quinn's and Courtney's Posts for what was their first experience of front line conditions. The following day (7th) they returned briefly to their dugouts before being ordered, on the 9th , to Rhododendron Ridge in support of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, coming under shrapnel fire and sustaining significant casualties for the first time with 12 killed and 35 wounded.

At 06.00 the following day (10th August)  the Turks attacked in divisional strength, overwhelming a battalion of the Loyal North Lancs' regiment and annihilated three companies of the Wiltshire in neighbouring positions to the Leinsters. A and D Coy's of 6/ Leinsters stood their ground despite being in great peril. At the crucial moment a bayonet charge by the remaining companies of the battalion steadied the line and restored the situation driving the Turks back down the hill after a desperate hand to hand struggle. Casualties were heavy exceeding 100.  As the Turks again streamed over the crest of the hill, formerly held by the North Lane's and the Wilts, they were temporally stopped and beaten back by the machine guns of the New Zealand brigade and the fire of the Royal Navy ships offshore. A comparative lull ensued during which die Leinsters tried to dig further trenches to better defend their precarious position. Immediately working parties showed themselves they attracted shrapnel fire forcing the work to be abandoned until nightfall. Turkish snipers had also infiltrated the thick bush that covered the hill causing work to be repeatedly interrupted. The Leinsters were now desperately tired, having had no opportunity to sleep properly for two days and having fought a fierce action earlier in the day. Any attempt to send out a platoon to drive off the snipers led to further casualties, and proved that the Turks were closer to hand and in greater strength than had been thought. As the night wore on the Turkish attacks continued making further digging impossible; it was now a question of hanging on and survival. A and D Coy's, which had been in support, were brought into the line. Repeated charges out of the darkness by the enemy were stopped by the steady rifle fire of the Leinsters and their bravery in meeting the enemy hand to hand. As dawn began to break the Turks threw themselves at the Leinsters in one last desperate attempt to overrun these stubborn Irishmen, behind whom there was little defence before the beach. The Leinsters, invoking the old principle of attack being the best method of defence, responded with a bayonet charge of their own; delivered with such spirit that it not only stopped the Turks but also drove them back. “

1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal (12279 Private C. Diaper, Wiltshire Regt). Memorial Plaque (Charles Draper) (note genuine mistake of  spelling of surname on plaque (“R” for “I”)  - there is no casualty by the name of Charles Draper).

Private Charles Diaper served with 'A' Company 7th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. Killed in Action 24th April 1917, fighting the Bulgarians at Doiran, Salonika, Greece.

On the night of 24th/25th April the Battalion attacked O1 and O2 trenches, 12th HANTS attacked O3, 1Petit Couronne.  'A' Coy left B2 trenches at 2105. There was then strong trench mortar fire and field gun fire on our front line. The company went down the PATTY RAVINE in sections in file and formed up in line in the ravine on the N.W slope. The enemy put up a very heavy T.M barrage in the ravine during the whole of this time, which caused many casualties. The company crawled up the slope in line and having got to the top advanced to the wire. Gaps had been cut but it was impossible to get into the trenches owing to machinegun fire on left of O1 and heavy rifle fire all along the line and enemy's bombers. Knife rests had been put up on the parapet behind the main wire and partly blocked the gaps. The Bulgars supports were seen coming down the cross trench on left of O1 and the front line was very strongly manned. Our advance was held up and the company was forced to lie down in shell holes in front of the wire. The main party never got through the wire. A few got into the enemy trenches but were not seen again. By this time all the officers had become casualties and Sgt Townsend returned to our lines and reported the situation. He received orders from the company to withdraw and got what was left of them back to our lines, bringing what wounded he could with him. Two Lewis guns were put out of action, one was brought back undamaged.

“The 7th Wiltshire’s were in the first wave of 79th Brigade's assault  on the night of 24th April 1917when 12 companies attacked the positions of the Bulgarian 2nd Brigade between Lake Doiran and Petit Couronne, and after bloody fight managed to take the points "Nerezov", "Knyaz Boris" and "Pazardzhik"  However a Bulgarian counter attack repulsed the British with heavy casualties and by 8 p.m. they had retreated. “

MID, London Gazette 25th June 1940. “for courage and devotion off the Dutch Coast” ......... C/J38721 Philip James Dawson, C.P.O. HMS Versatile, Dutch Coast.

Born 9^th March 1899 at Reepham, Norfolk. A farm boy who decided to see the world, he enlisted as a Boy class 2 in the Royal Navy on 26^th February 1915. On board HMS Birkenhead (3^rd Light Cruiser Sqn.) at Battle of Jutland. He then served in various ships and shore stations until his first service record papers end on 1^st January 1929 ( copy included) His later service record is retained by the MOD at present.

He continued to serve however, earning his LSGC on HMS Vimiera, and seeing action again in May 1940 while on board HMS Versatile. On 13^th May 1940 HMS Versatile was escorting HMS Hereward, who was carrying Queen Wilhelmina (Queen of the Netherlands) from the Hook of Holland to the Breskens - also in the Netherlands, when at 8.45pm, HMS Versatile was attacked by enemy aircraft. A bomb hit the upper deck over the Engine Room, causing structural damage, and flooding to the Engine Room. Splinters from this bomb and other near misses, caused damage from ‘A’ gun to the quarterdeck and the auxiliary machinery suffered minor damage, immobilising the ship. Nine men were killed in the attack, with one dying later of his wounds. Thirteen wounded men (about a fifth of the crew) were transferred to HMS Janus ,along with some Irish Guardsmen previously rescued from Holland. Janus towed Versatile home to Sheerness for repairs.            

Going by Dawson's lack of other WW2 stars, he was probably one of these wounded & took no further part in the war. It would seem that Dawson’s MID, gazetted some six weeks later, was for his actions during this air attack, as it was gazetted along with 7 other awards to the same ship. (Could he also be entitled to a bar on his LSGC?)