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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 511

Pair: Captain W. C. Molland, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was wounded in action several times and gassed at the Battle of Passchendaele

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W.C. Molland.), toning, light contact marks, very fine (2)

William Charles Molland was born in Cardiff in 1896 and enlisted with the 4th Royal Berkshire Territorial Force, later retitled the 1/4th, in September 1914 after working as a clerk at University College. Molland embarked for the Western Front with the Regiment in March 1915 as part of the 145th Brigade, 48th Division set for Flanders. He was awarded field punishment on two separate occasions that June for inattention to duty in the field and again for refusing to obey an order in the field. Shortly afterwards, Molland arrived at the Somme where he was wounded in action south of the line at Hebuterne, where his unit was stationed. Molland was again wounded in action the following month in August when he suffered a shell wound to the face, but returned to duty just a few days later.

Molland was promoted Lance Corporal before returning home in January 1917 to take a Commission, and in July was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant and posted to the 6th Royal Berskhire Regiment, 53rd Brigade, 18th Division. However, Molland was not to be away long as in November at Passchendaele in the Hulst Forest he was gassed and quickly sent to the Northumberland War Hospital, Newcastle. Whilst there recovering, the Regiment was disbanded due to a reduction in the number of battalions. Once declared fit, Molland was posted to the 8th Royal Berkshire Regiment. He joined his new unit at Lahoussaye in July 1918 and saw action the next month at the Battle of Amiens, where he was wounded south of Morlancourt.

Molland was made Acting Captain in September but relinquished the rank in February 1919, joining the 2/4th Berkshire Regiment at Boulogne. He sailed to Alexandria with them in June and was in the D Company when the Regiment was later disbanded, after which he was posted to the 11th Scottish Rifles. He returned home for demobilisation in February 1920 and relinquished his temporary commission the next month, whereafter he lived in Reading; sold together with a large quantity of comprehensive copied research and silver identification bracelet.

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Sold for
£95

Starting price
£30