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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 435

'The London Scottish, hastily assembled from detached duties a few days before, with no preparatory training, with defective rifles and without their machine-guns, had been flung into one of the most desperate fights of the War. At a most critical moment they had held back the rush of overwhelming numbers long enough to prevent a break through that would have imperilled the whole position about Ypres. They had borne themselves well.' - The Regimental History of the 14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), refers.

The famous 'London Scottish', a crack Territorial infantry regiment, sent their 1st Battalion to France on 15 September 1914 and were the first Territorial regiment to engage with the enemy during the Great War. Winning a name for themselves at Messines on 31 October 1914 (an event still commemorated with a Regimental Dinner to this day) their title lived on until recent times: on 1 May 2022, A (The London Scottish) Company, The London Regiment, became G (Messines) Company, Scots Guards, 1st Battalion London Guards.

The campaign group of three awarded to Captain R. A. Inkster, 14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), a long-served member of the unit who was twice wounded during the Great War and, during his convalescence at Glamis Castle, was likely nursed by Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon - later H.M. The Queen Mother.

1914 Star, Bar (1425 Pte. R.A. Inkster. 14-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R.A. Inkster.), good very fine (3)

Robert A. Inkster of Scalloway, Shetland, was born in 1886 and served a banking apprenticeship in Lerwick before moving south and joining the London Scottish on 25 February 1911. Posted to 'E' Company, Inkster went to France with the 1st Battalion on 15 September 1914 and must therefore have surely shared in their famous action at Messines on 31 October. Severely wounded the following month and invalided home to recover, his obituary in the Regimental Journal notes that he convalesced at Glamis Castle: as a teenager, Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon (future wife of H.M. King George VI and later well known as H.M. The Queen Mother) worked there and tended to many of the casualties - Inkster may well have been one of them.

Subsequently commissioned into the 13th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (a training and Home Defence unit) on 24 September 1915, his obituary further notes that he was yet again unfortunately wounded whilst instructing new recruits in the throwing of hand grenades. Though his War and Victory Medals are named to him as a Lieutenant, his M.I.C. notes his final rank as Captain; he also appears additionally entitled to the Territorial Efficiency Medal though a further note on his M.I.C. states this being returned for disposal. Returning to employ with the Union Bank of Scotland in Lerwick from 1923 - 1937, Inkster died at Hove in 1940.

Sold with a copied obituary notice, M.I.C., and a copied photograph of the recipient in uniform.

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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£180