The superb and well documented Battle of Arras Military Medal, Third Battle of Ypres Distinguished Conduct Medal and Second Award of the Military Medal, later Saint Quentin Prisoner of War group awarded to Private, later Corporal W.S. Swallow, 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps who saw service on the Western Front from 19th May 1915 taking part in many of the major battles on the Western Front and being awarded a Military Medal in the London Gazette of 18th June 1917 for his actions during the Battle of Arras in April 1917. He would later receive a Distinguished Conduct Medal in the London Gazette of 22nd October 1917 with the citation appearing in the London Gazette of 26th January 1918 for his conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as stretcher-bearer. When his company came under the most intense artillery fire. He was buried three times and had to be dugout, but in spite of this he rescued and dressed in the open many seriously wounded men. It was mainly due to his untiring efforts and coolness that these casualties were got away from the barrage zone. His courage and indifference to danger were a great example to all. Swallow would then receive a Second Award bar to his Military Medal in the London Gazette of 23rd February 1918 for his actions during the Third Battle of Ypres. He would then be taken Prisoner of War at Saint Quentin on 21st March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive when his unit suffered heavy casualties from a heavy artillery bombardment and gas attack. Taken prisoner he would survive the war to be discharged in March 1919.
Group of 5: Distinguished Conduct Medal, GVR, (A-2271 A. CPL. W.S. SWALLOW. 9/K.R.R.C.) Military Medal, GVR, with Second Award Bar; (A-2271 CPL. W.S. SWALLOW. 9/K.R.R.C.) 1914-1915 Star; (A-2271 PTE. W.S. SWALLOW. K.R. RIF.C.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (A-2271 A-CPL. W.S. SWALLOW. K.R. RIF.C.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Along with: St. John Ambulance Association First Aid certificated to Walter Swallow dated April 1912.
Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Tin.
1915 Christmas Card from Princess Mary.
Official Notification of the award of the Military Medal under authority of H.M. The King
9th King’s Royal Rifle Corps Concert Party Programme dated 8th August 1917.
1917 Christmas Card – 14th (Light) Division from Walter to his parents
Printed copy of Brigade Routine Orders dated 23rd September 1917 listing Swallow’s Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Printed copy of Brigade Routine Orders dated Wednesday 7th November 1917 listing Swallow’s bar to this Military Medal.
Great War Prisoner of War Book printed in German ‘Feldgefandbuch’
Returning Prisoner of War letter.
Pass allowing Swallow to be absent from 19th December 1918 to 19th February 1919.
Soldier’s Demobilisation Account dated 3rd March 1919.
King’s Royal Rifle Corps War Memorial fundraising letter.
Small photograph of Swallow in uniform.
Staveley British Legion Membership card dated January 1928
Card box of issue for Great War medals
Official Certificate of Discharge to the Reserve dated 24th March 1919.
Medal ribbon bar for DCM, MM and 1914-1915 Star.
Walter Spelton Swallow saw service as a Private, later Acting Corporal (No. A2271) with the 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps on the Western Front from 19th May 1915, and would go on to see service in many of the major battles of the Great War, he would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 18th June 1917 a gazette that covers awards for the Battle of Arras from 9th-14th April 1917. He would subsequently be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the London Gazette of 22nd October 1917, a gazette which covers a few awards for August 1917 and the Third Battle of Ypres. The following citation would later appear in the London Gazette of 26th January 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as stretcher-bearer. His company came under the most intense artillery fire. He was buried three times and had to be dugout, but in spite of this he rescued and dressed in the open many seriously wounded men. It was mainly due to his untiring efforts and coolness that these casualties were got away from the barrage zone. His courage and indifference to danger were a great example to all.’
He would then go on to receive a Second Award bar to his Military Medal in the London Gazette of 23rd February 1918 which covers awards at the Third Battle of Ypres and Passchendaele.
Swallow’s war would come to an end on 21st March 1918 at St. Quentin when he would be taken Prisoner of War on the first day of the German Spring Offensive, 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps which was positioned in the Urvillers Wood sector near Saint Quentin where it came under a heavy artillery and gas attack before the German attack began causing numerous casualties. He would survive the war to be repatriated, being discharged to the reserve on 24th March 1919.
