Walter Ralph Westbury  

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Surname Westbury Forename/s Walter Ralph Rank Private Service Number 11720 DOB 1894 at Charlton, Worcestershire Address   Date & place of death/details 8/10/1915 Age 21 Killed in action Regiment & Unit 1st Gloucestershire Regiment Service details France & Flanders Military Awards?   Married?               Children?   Any photographs? Derbyshire Times 23/10/1915 (Page 8) Derbyshire Courier 23/10/1915 Derbyshire Times Obituary. Parents names Mr Frederick Charles & Mrs Emily Westbury Parents address 8, Madin Street, New Tupton Grave location or   memoria location No Grave. Loos Memorial, France, Panel 60-64 Living relatives?   Any other information? Enlisted in September 1914. Proceeded to the front in February 1915. Pre war occupations were with the Midland Railway Company, and before that working at Clay Cross Company's Avanue pit. He also worked as a postman from the Old Tupton Post Office when he was 16 (see instruction book click HERE). Campaign Medals: 1914/15 Star Given the information available, it is very possible that Walter Ralph Westbury was was awarded the 1914-15 star campaign medal of the British Empire for his service in World War One. This Star is identical to the 1914 Star in every respect except that the centre scroll bears the dates “1914- 15” and the two small scrolls bearing “Aug” and “Nov” are omitted. He would also have received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, as it was not awarded singularly. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. With Pip representing either this medal or the 1914 Star, only one of which could be awarded to a soldier, Squeak represented the British War Medal and Wilfred represented the Victory Medal. Victory Medal Given the information available it is likely that Walter Ralph Westbury was entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible. British War Medal From the information available, it is very possible that Walter Ralph Westbury was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period