Scarce Warrant Officers German Spring Offensive Military Cross group awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class 1 J. Wreford, King’s Own Scottish Borderers who saw serving in the Boer War in South Africa being present in the operations in Cape Colony and at the actions at Paardeberg and Johannesburg. He would later service during the Great War where he would travel to France on 21st March 1918. He would then serve on the Western Front and would be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette on 16th September 1918 for his gallantry and devotion to duty when under heavy enemy attacks he showed great courage and steadiness while organising his line in a new position. By his skill in manoeuvring his men after his officer had become a casualty, he beat off a determined enemy attack setting a very fine example to his men. He would later be Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 8th July 1919 for his service in France. After returning to the UK he would join the Prison Service, working at Dartmoor Prison.
Group of 6: Military Cross, GVR cypher, Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 3 Clasps: Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg; (4811 PTE. J. WREFORD. K.O. SCOT. BORD:) King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (4811 PTE. J. WREFORD. K.O.SCO.BORD:) British War Medal and Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches oak leaf; (4811 A.W.O.CL. 1 J.WREFORD. K.O.SCO.BORD.) Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal; (4811 SJT. J. WREFORD. K.O.S.B.)
Also with a self-awarded renamed 1914-1915 Star; (4811 C.S.M. WREFORD. K.O.S.B.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
John Wreford was born in Exeter on 15th March 1880, the son of Frederick and Ann Stoneman Wreford. He enlisted underage as a 14 year old on 17th March 1894 into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He would initially serve at home in the UK until he travelled to South Africa on 4th January 1900 where he would take part in the Boer War being present in the operations in Cape Colony as well as at the actions at Paardeberg and Johannesburg.
He would return home to the UK on 16th February 1903 and remain there until 21st March 1918. He would then travel to France and see service on the Western Front . He would be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette on 16th September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Under heavy enemy attacks he showed great courage and steadiness while organising his line in a new position. By his skill in manoeuvring his men after his officer had become a casualty, he beat off a determined enemy attack. He set a very fine example to his men.’
The action in the citation almost certainly occurring just after Wrefod’s arrival on the Western Front and during the Germany Spring Offensive which had begun the day before his arrival in France.
He would later go on to be Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 8th July 1919 for his service in France.
John Wreford would be discharged on 9th July 1919 and would return to Exeter where he joined the Prison Service, the 1921 census showing him working at Dartmoor Prison. He would still be serving as a Prison Officer until at least 1939 (this being confirmed on the 1939 register), his address at this time being recorded as 37 Oakhampton Road, Exeter.
Twice married, the first time to Alice Davey on 8th August 1906, who died on 16th May 1948, he would marry his second wife Kate Davey, the first cousin of Alice in September 1949, but she died in September 1954.
John died in Exeter on 28th August 1958.
