The interesting and unique Blackpool National Motor Volunteers Medal of Merit 1916, in hallmarked silver, the reverse engraved to ‘Sergeant T. Sharples for services rendered to the Blackpool Section, Motor Volunteers 1916’ given to him by the Commandant A.L. Parkinson, Mayor. Sharples was the first member of the National Motor Volunteers to mount a machine-gun on his motorcycle.
Blackpool National Motor Volunteers Medal of Merit 1916, in hallmarked silver, the reverse engraved to ‘AWARD TO SERGT. T. SHARPLES. FOR SERVICES RENDERED TO THE BLACKPOOL SECTION NATIONAL MOTOR VOLUNTEERS 1916 COMMANDANT A.L. PARKINSON. MAYOR.’ Mounted on a pin for wear.
Condition: mounted on a pin for wear, small edge-knock at 8 o’clock, otherwise Good Very Fine
Awarded to Sergeant T. Sharpes for services rendered to the Blackpool Section of the National Motor Volunteers in 1916
A newspaper article relates:
A very pleasing presentation took place at the parade of the National Motor Volunteers on Tuesday evening, when Sergt. T Sharples was the recipient of a silver medal from the hands of Commandant A.L. Parkinson, the Mayor, who was supported by Half-Squadron Commander J. Prestwich, Adjt S.O. Taylor, and Sergt-Major Sanderson.
The medal was for services rendered to the Corps, especially in recruiting. It is well known that Sergt. Sharples has been untiring in his efforts to keep up the efficiency in numbers of the National Motor Volunteers and it will be remembered that at the supper given some time ago, on the occasion of the presentation of swords to Commandant A.L. Parkinson and Half-Squadron Commader J. Prestwich, the Mayor then announced that Sergt. Sharples had been awarded the honour.
The Mayor spoke in very high terms of the valuable work that Sergt. Sharples has rendered in connection with the Motor Volunteer movement, and he expressed the hope that this pleasant event would be the means of promoting still more enthusiasm in the Corps. The Commandant also alluded to the great importance of the motor cycle section, which is the eyes and ears of the motor volunteers. He impressed the need of keeping the section up to full strength, which is perhaps rather difficult on account of the call to arms from the general army, which has always been loyally responded to by the members of the N.M. Volunteers. He said he looked to the Sergeant to full up the gaps at the earliest opportunity, and felt sure that this would be done.
The mayor pinned on the medal, and congratulated Sergt. Sharples, and the corps was then dismissed.
The medal bore the inscription: - ‘1st class award to Sergt. T. Sharples for services rendered to the Blackpool Squadron, National Motor Volunteers, 1917 (sic). Commandant A.L. Parkinson, Mayor’
A further article dated 7th June 1917 from the Motor Cycle publication titled ‘Motor Cyclist Volunteers at Blackpool’ ends : ‘The most interesting turn-out was that of Sgt. T. Sharples of the Blackpool section, who has mounted on a sidecar outfit a Lewis machine-gun. He is the first volunteer motor cyclist in the country to have such an attachment.’. Along with an image of him mounted on his motor cycle.
