A curious Great War campaign & long service medal group of 5 including a Mercantile Marine Medal to a a British soldier: Private George Walton, East Yorkshire Regt, late Durham Light Infantry and sometime Mercantile Marine

- 1914-15 Star (7433 Pte. (A.Sjt.) G. Walton. Durh. L.I.)
- British War Medal: (7433 A.Sjt. G. Walton. Durh. L.I.)
- Mercantile Marine War Medal (George Dalton.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (7433 A.Sjt. G. Walton. Durh. L.I
- Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7433 Pte. G. Walton. Durh. L.I.)

Medals Verification: See below following the respective medal roll reference sources for Great War campaign medals:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2661 Roll of East Yorks Mespot 11/11/14 prior Pte (A/Sjt) 1/DLI 
- British War Medal: WO 329/926 roll East Yorks Regt. Prior 7433 Pte 1/DLI lastly 35565 E Yorks
- Mercantile Marine: BT 351/1/146192 (b. Sunderland (Co Durham) 1878)
- Victory Medal: WO 329/926 roll East Yorks Regt, prior 7433 A/Sjt 1/DLI last 35565 E. Yorks
- Army LS.&GC. GV 1st type: For 18 years unblemished service awarded between 1911-1919

Note: The only other Mercantile Marine Medal medal awarded to a George Dalton, was a chap born in London, ref BT 351/1/146193 (b. London 1877)

Except for a solitary page, in the 'Burnt File Series' the service papers for No. 7433 Private George Walton, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, were destroyed by enemy action during a wartime bombing raid on London

It is not known when George Walton enlisted in the British Army, but what is known is that he definitely joined the Durham Light Infantry (possibly transferred-in from another regiment), in March 1901 (No 7432 Pte Peter Donnelly had enlisted into the DLI on 8 March 1901, and No 7434 Pte James McWalter enlisted on 11 March 1901). Prior to the Great War 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry was on garrison duty in British India, where it had served for a number of years prior to August 1914, and continued to serve on garrison duty throughout the Great War

Quite how George Walton qualified for the Mercantile Marine Medal is unknown to us, and the medals are sold as-found

Had George been re-called from one of the 'Reserves' in 1914, and prior to mobilization had completed a single voyage as a merchant seaman, that would account for the award of the Mercantile Marine Medal, his LSGC being awarded anytime between 1911 - 1919 on completion of an aggregated 18 years unblemished service

A digital search of the extant Mercantile Marine Medal records only return 2 x persons called George or G. Walton, as candidates for that medal. One born in Sunderland, Co. Durham 1878, and the other born in London in 1882. What is more certain, is that George Walton of 1/DLI, first entered theatre of war 'Mesopotamia' on 11 November 1914, and sometime after that served on attachment with a battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. Whether George Walton, ever returned to 1/DLI after his transfer to East Yorkshire Regiment, or was discharged before the end of the Great War, and or re-enlisted in the British Army in or after 1920, is unknown to use, but what is certain is that he was serving with a battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1920, as his last recorded number was an Army Number from the block 4334001-4379000 that was issued to the East Yorkshire Regiment 
 
The medals all equally toned and mounted in the swing style - the 1914-15 Star & BWM in reverse precedence order - suspended from silk moire ribands. The contemporary white metal mounting bar retaining its long hinged pin & clasp fittings

Condition: GVF

Code: 26354