Victory Medal/War Medal pair to Pioneer, re-enlisted in RASC in 1920

World War 1, 1914 -1918 PAIR To 316871 PNR J W HALLAM. RE

A pair of WW1 medals (Victory and British War) correctly inscribed to 316871 Pioneer John William HALLAM of the Royal Engineers.

Potted history of the Corps and its service in WW1:

In the course of WW1 the Royal Engineers grew from about 25,000 men in 1914 to 315,000 in 1918. Their roles included maintaining the railways, roads, water supply, bridges and operating rail and inland waterways transport on all fronts, together with maintenance and operation of telephone and telegraph lines, wireless and other signalling equipment. Engineers also designed and built front-line fortifications, trenches and dugouts, and provided accommodation for men camped behind the lines. Engineers provided maps, performed demolition work and manufactured and repaired weapons. The Corps was also responsible for gas and underground warfare. Pioneer was the most junior rank in the Corps, indicating a man with no particular relevant skills, those with such skills being graded Sapper.

Holder's service history:

John William entered a theatre of war on the strength of the Royal Engineers but re-enlisted on 23 April 1920 into the Royal Army Service Corps as ES59790, hence he appears on the RASC medal roll.

His service records do not appear to have survived (nor do those for the 20-odd soldiers with numbers either side of his!) but a John Malcolm Geddes, a fellow RE Pioneer with a service number only 20 above his own was killed in action in France whilst serving with J Special Coy., 3rd Battalion Special Brigade, RE (a war Gas cylinder company), on 23 March 1918 (presumably during the great German March Offensive) which gives an idea of the possible timeframe and type of his service.

Holder's personal history:

His Coventry address is given on his medal index card as 47 Cromwell Street. (Presumably as his medals had previously been returned to the medal office as undeliverable, as noted elsewhere on the card.)

A John William Hallam, a clerk aged 17, is shown as living at 61 Cromwell Street, Coventry during the 1911 census and it is perhaps not far-fetched to identify them as the same person. (47 Cromwell Street was occupied by the Gardner family at this time.)

Following this particular line, there address two marriage records for a John W Hallam in Coventry around that period; to Ida M Osborn in the last quarter of 1923 and to Constance P Watkins in the third quarter of 1929.

Medal condition:

The medals are in Very Fine condition with original patina. They are presented on original silk ribbons which have however been stuck down for display.