Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 37 25 Sep 2019
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United Kingdom, World War I, the Wakefield Gold Medal, For the Destruction of Zeppelin L15, awarded to Gunner Trigwell, the Lord Mayor's medal, by Mappin & Webb, the arms of the Wakefield family, PRESENTED BY THE LORD MAYOR – COLONEL SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD, rev. a 3" 20-cwt anti-aircraft gun, barrel points at 'L15', legend on scroll, WELL HIT – MARCH 31STAPRIL 1ST 1916, 9ct., 30mm., fob-mounted, glazed and with looped suspender, Birmingham hallmark, extremely fine
It may not be possible to identify Gunner Trigwell, however a Gunner Frank Herbert Trigwell, 21st AA Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery Sussex TF, was killed in action, 16.11.1917 and is buried in the Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, Belgium.
Colonel Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield (1859-1941), founded the Castrol lubricants company. He served as Lord Mayor of London 1915-16, for which he was knighted. 1n 1930 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Wakefield of Hythe in the County of Kent, becoming 1st Viscount Wakefield four years later. He was a significant philanthropist.
Following Zeppelin raids on London, Wakefield, as Lord Mayor, offered a £500 prize to whoever shot down the first. Further raids followed and on the night of 31st March, 1916, a Royal Artillery battery at Purfleet, protecting the Royal Gunpowder Magazines, shot and severely damaged the Zeppelin LZ15. Other units were also to claim hits. The War Office ruled that the gunners, as serving soldiers, could not receive a monetary prize for doing their job, so Wakefield had the gold medals made. 353 were issued in all, made by Mappin & Webb, and each engraved with the recipient's name.
Two examples were sold in the John Tamplin collection, DNW, 20 September 2002 (lots 36 & 37). The cataloguer is not aware of any further examples being offered since then. See also lot 532 below
(450-550 GBP)
It may not be possible to identify Gunner Trigwell, however a Gunner Frank Herbert Trigwell, 21st AA Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery Sussex TF, was killed in action, 16.11.1917 and is buried in the Cement House Cemetery, Langemark, Belgium.
Colonel Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield (1859-1941), founded the Castrol lubricants company. He served as Lord Mayor of London 1915-16, for which he was knighted. 1n 1930 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Wakefield of Hythe in the County of Kent, becoming 1st Viscount Wakefield four years later. He was a significant philanthropist.
Following Zeppelin raids on London, Wakefield, as Lord Mayor, offered a £500 prize to whoever shot down the first. Further raids followed and on the night of 31st March, 1916, a Royal Artillery battery at Purfleet, protecting the Royal Gunpowder Magazines, shot and severely damaged the Zeppelin LZ15. Other units were also to claim hits. The War Office ruled that the gunners, as serving soldiers, could not receive a monetary prize for doing their job, so Wakefield had the gold medals made. 353 were issued in all, made by Mappin & Webb, and each engraved with the recipient's name.
Two examples were sold in the John Tamplin collection, DNW, 20 September 2002 (lots 36 & 37). The cataloguer is not aware of any further examples being offered since then. See also lot 532 below
(450-550 GBP)