The Tom May Collection -British Groups

Lot 2089    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    The Tom May Collection -British Groups

Estimate $250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $300

TRIO: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Royal Humane Society bronze medal. Deal 12937-S-Pte P.R.Farnall R.M. on first and second medals, Pte R.Farnall June 25, 1905 on third medal. First and second medals impressed, third medal engraved. Very fine.

Sapper Percival Robert Farnall, born at Stratford near London, 05Feb1875, Foreman Stevedore; Enl.07Oct1917 in Royal Marines, Deal; to France for service with RM L Corps; incurred four discipline charges while at Calais from 17Apr - 09May1918; 24Jun1918 approval for transfer from RML Corps to RM Light Infy and ordered to be sent to Depot Royal Marines, Deal for training; this never effected as absented himself without leave on 30Jun1918 and on 24Jul1918 declared a deserter; while in desertion Farnall enlisted in Inland Waterways and Docks (IW&D) Royal Engineers Marine Section on 04Jul1918 and assigned service number WR338549 (this later recorded as a Fraudulent Enlistment); declared as absentee from 06Sep1918; 11Sep1918 apprehended by London Naval Piquet at Trafalgar Square, London in uniform but improperly (not wearing belt); in his statement Sapper Farnall said that while deserted, wearing civilian clothes and under influence of drink he joined IW&D. After, when sober, he realised the foolishness of his actions and surrendered to Naval Piquet; District Court Martial resulted in award of 42 days detention at Aldershot from 30Sep - 24Oct1918; 23Dec1918 transferred to Dunkirk. On his Attestation form, Farnall's service number is recorded as Deal/S 12937. With thirty photocopy pages of research.