Original WW1 Sporran Purse & Liverpool Scottish Documents - to Military Medal Winner Corporal Stephen Ritchings (356357)
The black leather sporran has a woven cotton canvas or wool-blend houndstooth check lining and was likely private purchase.
The black leather sporran was found together with the documents though it is not named to Stephen or military marked.
The set includes a rare Brigade Commander's Card (often referred to as a "Mention in Brigade Orders" or a Divisional Gallantry Certificate). This award recognizes his actions on 29th June 1917 at Bois Grenier (a sector south of Armentières, France), signed by Major General Richard W. Breeks, commander of the 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division.
It also includes :
- an original photo of him in uniform, including wearing his sporran.
- his Demobilisation certificate dated 9th April 1919
- his (Discharge) Protection Certificate & Certificate of Identity dated 12th March 1919 at Heaton Park
He was born in 1894 and lived in Blackburn, Lancashire as a Grocer before WW1.
He enlisted on 14th June 1915 into the 10th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Scottish)
He was UK based until he disembarked at Le Harvre in France on the 20th February 1917.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on 12th July 1917 and to Corporal on 4th January 1918.
He was wounded in action on the 9th November 1917 and spent time in the hospital at Le Treport
Supplied with copies of research materials which include pages from the Battalion war diary which has a 4 page typed report detailing the atrack in which Stephen was awarded his Military Medal, the action being titled "Dicky's Dash"
