India North West Frontier Mohmand Expedition 1908 and Great War 1914 Old Contemptible’s group awarded to Private A. Sanderson, 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was formerly in the Militia between 1903 and 1906, and then joined the regulars. Seeing service out in India, he was present during the Mohmand Expedition on the North West Frontier which lasted from 14th February to 31st May 1908. With the Great War he then saw service with the British Expeditionary Force out on the Western Front from 8th September 1914, before being discharged due to wounds on 1st April 1915. Together with a related Imperial Service Medal awarded to Alfred Ernest Sanderson, a postman with the General Post Office at Birmingham from September 1914, he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal in the London Gazette for 12th March 1948.
Group of 6: India General Service Medal 1908-1935, 1 Clasp: North West Frontier 1908; (8220 PTE: A. ANDERSON. 1ST: W.Y. REGT:); 1914 Star with Clasp; (8220 PTE. A. SANDERSON. 1/W.YORK:R.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (8229 PTE. A. SANDERSON. W. YORK R.); Defence Medal 1939-1945.
Related: Imperial Service Medal, GVI 1st type bust; (ALFRED ERNEST SANDERSON)
Condition: light contact wear, about Good Very Fine.
Alfred Sanderson was born in Hull, East Yorkshire, and was living in Hillsborough near Sheffield, West Yorkshire, and working as a carter when he attested for service with the British Army Militia at Sheffield on 9th December 1903, joining as a Private (No.6538) the 3rd Militia Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment. He then transferred to the regular army on 23rd October 1906 for service as a Private (No.8220) with the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, and then saw service out in India and was present during the Mohmand Expedition on the North West Frontier which lasted from 14th February to 31st May 1908.
With the Great War he then saw service with the British Expeditionary Force out on the Western Front from 8th September 1914, before being discharged due to wounds on 1st April 1915 and awarded the Silver War Badge. Sanderson claimed the Clasp and Roses to his 1914 Star in January 1920. He may or may not have seen service in Civil Defence during the Second World War.
Alfred Ernest Sanderson, who is believed to not be the same as the above, though the medals did come together as one set, is known to have joined the General Post Officer ‘without competition’ as a Postman in Birmingham, Warwickshire, as gazetted on 4th September 1914, and went on to be awarded the Imperial Service Medal in the London Gazette for 12th March 1948.
