Lot 39
A Mesopotamia Casualty Pair awarded to Private Frederick Harding Hudson
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A Mesopotamia Casualty Pair awarded to Private Frederick Harding Hudson, 2nd Battalion The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) who received a Gun Shot Wound to the Thigh on the 17th of April 1916 and also suffered from Malaria, comprising 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (GS‑9510 Pte. F.H. Hudson. R. W. Kent R.), contemporarily mounted for wear toned, very fine. (2).
Frederick Harding Hudson enlisted into the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment at Maidstone on the 16th of August 1915. He was posted to the Indian Expeditionary Force on the 10th of December 1915 but arriving in Theatre after the closure for the award of the 1914-15 Star.
The 2nd Battalion was in Multan, India in August 1914, moving to Mesopotamia, arriving Basra on 6th February 1915, where it came under the command of 12th Indian Brigade. Two Companies were attached to the 30th Brigade in the 6th (Poona) Division in November 1915 and became besieged at Kut-al-Amara, where they were captured on 29th April 1916.
It is noted that the remaining Companies were attached to 34th Brigade which was part of 15th Indian Division, transferring to 17th Indian Division in August 1917. The Battalion remained in Mesopotamia throughout the war.
On consulting the War Diary of the 2nd Battalion at the National Archives (WO‑95‑5195‑3, copy included), these Companies were building water defences at Nasiriyah and saw no action during the month at all.
To be wounded on the 17th of April by a Gun Shot Wound, Private Harding must have been attached to the two Companies at Kut-al-Amara, and have been evacuated before the fall of the town.
He was returned to India on the 29th of July 1916 and remained in India, presumably in Hospital or convalescing, for 49 days before returning to Mesopotamia, where he remained until the 8th of January 1919. He returned Home on the 9th of January 1919 and was discharged on the 22nd of March 1919.
Sold with Copy Medal Index Card confirming the Pair, Copy Medal Roll, Copy Service Papers and April 1916 Copy War Diary extract.
