Corporal William Cadenhead Royal Engineers and St Andrew's Ambulance Association
The Man William Cadenhead was born on Friday 22nd November 1901 at 2010h at 30 Millgate Loan, Arbroath Scotland son of William Henry Jackson a Railway Clerk and Jessie Irene Fairweather.
In about 1918 William followed his father working for the Caledonian Railway as a Clerk at Dundee West Goods Station, at the same time joining the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Brigade. He serving with the brigade for the next 15 years and was awarded his Voluntary Medical Services Medal in about 1933.
Before the start of World War II William enlisted into the Militia, Royal Engineers with service number 7339520 and later promoted to Corporal. He was embodied at the beginning of the war seeing service in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force with the Railways Dock Group RE in 1939, before being evacuated from the country at the fall of France the following year.
He remained in the UK for the rest of the war, his service intertwining with his job on the railways. At the end of the war, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 20 of 1946 his Efficiency Medal ‘Militia’.
For the remainder of his career William continued his work with the railways, including some time posted to London. He lived at 8 Bellfield Avenue, Dundee and retired in November 1961 aged 60, continuing his work as a volunteer with the Dundee West Company (British Railways) St Andrew’s Ambulance Association, rising to Assistant Commandant and Secretary. Additionally, he was awarded six clasps to his VMSM totalling 45 year’s voluntary service.
In the New years honours list of January 1962, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his dedicated service of 43 years’ to the St Andrew Ambulance. This was presented to him by the Lord Provost of Dundee, Maurice McManus in Dundee City Chambers on 26th March 1962.
William died in 1972 aged 70.
In about 1918 William followed his father working for the Caledonian Railway as a Clerk at Dundee West Goods Station, at the same time joining the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Brigade. He serving with the brigade for the next 15 years and was awarded his Voluntary Medical Services Medal in about 1933.
Before the start of World War II William enlisted into the Militia, Royal Engineers with service number 7339520 and later promoted to Corporal. He was embodied at the beginning of the war seeing service in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force with the Railways Dock Group RE in 1939, before being evacuated from the country at the fall of France the following year.
He remained in the UK for the rest of the war, his service intertwining with his job on the railways. At the end of the war, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 20 of 1946 his Efficiency Medal ‘Militia’.
For the remainder of his career William continued his work with the railways, including some time posted to London. He lived at 8 Bellfield Avenue, Dundee and retired in November 1961 aged 60, continuing his work as a volunteer with the Dundee West Company (British Railways) St Andrew’s Ambulance Association, rising to Assistant Commandant and Secretary. Additionally, he was awarded six clasps to his VMSM totalling 45 year’s voluntary service.
In the New years honours list of January 1962, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his dedicated service of 43 years’ to the St Andrew Ambulance. This was presented to him by the Lord Provost of Dundee, Maurice McManus in Dundee City Chambers on 26th March 1962.
William died in 1972 aged 70.
The Story The medals awarded to William Cadenhead were purchased from Cinque Ports Militaria at Malvern Militaria Fair on Sunday 24th March 2024. They were of interest because of the double long service combination, a Militia Efficiency Medal and six clasps on the Voluntary Medical Services Medal, plus a British Empire Medal, an unusual combination.
The BEM was engraved with William’s first name but as he had lived in Scotland nothing could be found on Ancestry. However, a search of the newspaper archives revealed stories of the award of his BEM in 1962, this enabling a brief biography to be put together and the acquisition of his birth certificate from Scotland’s People.
The newspaper reports confirming he had been evacuated from France in 1940, this effectively confirming his world War II medal entitlement in the group.
The BEM was engraved with William’s first name but as he had lived in Scotland nothing could be found on Ancestry. However, a search of the newspaper archives revealed stories of the award of his BEM in 1962, this enabling a brief biography to be put together and the acquisition of his birth certificate from Scotland’s People.
The newspaper reports confirming he had been evacuated from France in 1940, this effectively confirming his world War II medal entitlement in the group.
Medal Details:
- British Empire Medal: WILLIAM CADENHEAD
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded
- Efficiency Medal: 7339520 CPL.W.CADENHEAD. R.e.
- Voluntary Medical Services Medal: W.CADENHEAD
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This page last updated 28 Apr 24
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