Rare WW1 Gallantry Military Medal & Wound Badge Group - for Edwin Tupman who was also tried for Desertion
Edwin was a very colourful character with the rare combination of being awarded for bravery, a long list of disciplinary events and also being wounded.
Contains
- George V Military Medal
- WW1 1914-15 Star
- WW1 War Medal
- WW1 Victory Medal
- Silver wound badge numbered 511791 which is registered to Tupman
Medal ribbons are all original
Supplied with a small amount of research material
Private Edwin Birch Tupman (14658)
9th & 3'd Btn Yorks and Lancaster Regt
Edwin was born in Masbrough near Rotherham in Yorkshire England, to William and Jane Tupman. Pre WW1 he was a miner.
His army Attestation is dated 1st September 1914, joining the 9" Btn Yorks & Lancaster regiment and entered service on 27th August 1915
He was reported as absent / deserted on 6th Jan 1917 and then recorded as under arrest for desertion on 15th Feb 1917 until he was tried for desertion on 12th May 1917 and instead found guilty of being AWOL and was demoted from Lance Corporal to Private. When he was posted to France in June 1917 the remainder of his sentence was commuted. Overall Edwin has 8 separate punishments recorded on his record, resulting in being fined a total of 64 days pay (one of which was for being found asleep in a dugout in France) and 90 days detention. Reasons listed for his punishments were absence, inattention in the ranks, disrespect of an officer and being asleep in a dug out.
Unusually his military record also contains a letter dated 8" June 1915 sent by the mother of his child to his regiment commander asking for help to get Edwin to make maintenance payments to her and his child. Shortly after this, there is a record of his pay being reduced by 4 pence per day in support of an "illegitimate child" in order to cover his maintenance payment arrears.
His Military Medal award is recorded in the London Gazette edition of 25th Sept 1917. He is recorded as receiving his Military Medal on 14th August 1917.
He was wounded on 24th June 1918. His silver wound badge was awarded to him whilst he was serving in the 10th Btn.
He was discharged from the 3rd Btn on 6th Nov 1918 just before the end of the war which is also unusual.
His history is definitely worthy of further research.
