WW1 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Long Service & Good Conduct Medal Group of Four – Regimental Sergeant Major H.A. Firth, 1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment – Twice Wounded
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A first world war long service medal group of four awarded to Regimental Sergeant Major Horace Augustus Firth, 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment, who was wounded twice while serving with the 7th Battalion on the Western Front.
1914-15 Star named to 7709 Sjt. H.A. Firth, Suff. R.
British War Medal named to 7709 W.O.Cl.2. H.A. Firth. Suff. R.
WW1 Victory Medal named to 7709 W.O.Cl.2. H.A. Firth. Suff. R.
George V Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named to 5819204 W.O.Cl.1. H.A. Firth. Suff. R.
The medals are swing mounted for wear. Please note that there is an official correction to his surname on the LS&GC medal. See photos.
Horace Augustus Firth was born in West Dereham, Norfolk on 5 September 1890 and enlisted in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment on 3 June 1907. After serving for a year, Firth transferred to the Suffolk Regiment as a Regular Army Private on 4 June 1908, posted to the 2nd Battalion on 15 October 1908.
Firth was promoted Lance Corporal 7 May 1910, Corporal 21 June 1912, and transferred to the Reserve Battalion. At the outbreak of war, he was promoted Sergeant and transferred to the newly formed 7th Battalion on 21 August 1914.
Firth landed in France with his battalion on 30 May 1915. He was appointed Company Quarter Master Sergeant on 18 August 1915 and Acting Company Sergeant Major on 14 August 1916. Firth was wounded in action (gunshot wound right shoulder) on 12 October 1916 at Bayonet Trench during the Battle of The Somme. The British launched an attack on a four-mile front between Eaucourt and Bapume-Peronne Road, advancing 500 to 1,000 yards. He was sent to England to recover from this wound on the 18th.
He returned to the 7th Battalion on 12 March 1917 as a Company Quarter Master Sergeant before promoted to Company Sergeant Major (warrant officer class 2) on 28 April 1917, being wounded in action a second time (gunshot wound left foot) on the same day near Pelves during the Battle of Arras. The British launched an attack in what later was dubbed the Battle of Arleux.
Sent to England on 2 May 1917 to recover from this second wound, Firth was posted to the 3rd Battalion as C.S.M. on 18 June 1917, remaining with them for the duration of the war.
Firth was posted to the 1st Battalion on 3 September 1919 as Company Sergeant Major, and promoted to be the 1st Battalion’s Regimental Sergeant Major on 23 January 1925.
Firth received his 3rd class certificate of education in 1908, 2nd class in 1912, and 1st class in 1921.
He also qualified as a physical training instructor in 1911 and in a rifle & light guns course in
1922. He received the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 15 June 1927 (Army Order 150).
After serving as the 1st Battalion’s sergeant major for five years, Firth retired on 23 January 1930.
Army Ordnance Corps in 1939 and was appointed a War Office Clerk, Special Class, on 18
December 1940. He died on 30 December 1963 at Colchester. His wife Bessie died in 1981.
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