Captain Wilfred Fidler Royal Berkshire Regiment and Army Cadet Force
Wilfed Fidler
The Man Wilfred Fidler was born on Sunday 16th April 1899 in Wantage, Berkshire son of Henry, Rural Postman and Jane nee Jarvis. He was one of four children, Vera Elsie born in 1900 - 1949, Harold Sidney (1901-1955) and Eric Norman (1905 – 1972). The 1901 census shows the family living at Belmont and in 1911 at Belmont Villas, most likely the same address.
At the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Wilfred was too young to join the Army and following his education became a Temporary Postman. He enlisted soon after his 18th Birthday with the Corps of Dragoons as private attesting on 16th May 1917 with service number D/30324. He was not called up under the Military Service Act until 21st June 1918 aged 19 and 2 months old and into the 36th Recruit Distribution Training Battalion. He was described as 5’.1½” tall, with a chest of 31”, weighing 85lbs with brown hair, grey eyes, two moles over his right eye and a fair physical development.
He was posted to home duties with the 2/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry on 17th September 1918 but was not deployed for operational service at home or overseas, therefore, not entitled to any War Medals. He was discharged 3rd December 1918 under Kings Regulations 392 XVI - released on account of being permanently physically unfit for service as he had a valvular disease of the heart. He was awarded a Silver War Badge number 129021 and gave his address as 27 Belmont Villas.
His heart disease appears to have passed away according to his medical report and Wilfred re-enlisted into the 1st Battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1919 as a Private with service number 5330062. He was posted overseas soon after, serving as part of the NoPerForce (North Persia Force) in the region as part of an ongoing campaign (10th August to 31st December 1920), which basically was a total of 6,000 British & Indian troops, mainly based at Manjeel, holding the head of the Pass, preventing advance by Bolshevik forces. A battalion was stationed at Zanjin and some patrolled the Manjeel-Qazvin Road, the remainder were at Qazvin and on various lines of communications from. For bis service Wilfred was awarded his General Service Medal with ‘North West Persia’ clasp.
He then served in Waziristan, a road construction effort and military campaign conducted from 21st December 1921 to 31st March 1924 by British and Indian forces in Waziristan (now in Pakistan). These operations were part of the new Forward Policy, which sought to reduce and eventually eliminate tribal uprisings and tribal raids into settled districts by stationing regular troops inside Waziristan, which would then be capable of swiftly responding to Waziri rebellions. The rebel tribes attempted to harass the British troops but were unsuccessful in stopping the road construction. Wilfred was awarded his India General Service Medal with clasp ‘Waziristan 1921-24’.
At the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Wilfred was too young to join the Army and following his education became a Temporary Postman. He enlisted soon after his 18th Birthday with the Corps of Dragoons as private attesting on 16th May 1917 with service number D/30324. He was not called up under the Military Service Act until 21st June 1918 aged 19 and 2 months old and into the 36th Recruit Distribution Training Battalion. He was described as 5’.1½” tall, with a chest of 31”, weighing 85lbs with brown hair, grey eyes, two moles over his right eye and a fair physical development.
He was posted to home duties with the 2/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry on 17th September 1918 but was not deployed for operational service at home or overseas, therefore, not entitled to any War Medals. He was discharged 3rd December 1918 under Kings Regulations 392 XVI - released on account of being permanently physically unfit for service as he had a valvular disease of the heart. He was awarded a Silver War Badge number 129021 and gave his address as 27 Belmont Villas.
His heart disease appears to have passed away according to his medical report and Wilfred re-enlisted into the 1st Battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1919 as a Private with service number 5330062. He was posted overseas soon after, serving as part of the NoPerForce (North Persia Force) in the region as part of an ongoing campaign (10th August to 31st December 1920), which basically was a total of 6,000 British & Indian troops, mainly based at Manjeel, holding the head of the Pass, preventing advance by Bolshevik forces. A battalion was stationed at Zanjin and some patrolled the Manjeel-Qazvin Road, the remainder were at Qazvin and on various lines of communications from. For bis service Wilfred was awarded his General Service Medal with ‘North West Persia’ clasp.
He then served in Waziristan, a road construction effort and military campaign conducted from 21st December 1921 to 31st March 1924 by British and Indian forces in Waziristan (now in Pakistan). These operations were part of the new Forward Policy, which sought to reduce and eventually eliminate tribal uprisings and tribal raids into settled districts by stationing regular troops inside Waziristan, which would then be capable of swiftly responding to Waziri rebellions. The rebel tribes attempted to harass the British troops but were unsuccessful in stopping the road construction. Wilfred was awarded his India General Service Medal with clasp ‘Waziristan 1921-24’.
India General Service Medal 'Waziristan 1921-24'. General Service Medal 'N.W Persia'. Defence Medal. Imperial Service Medal. Cadet Forces Medal.
Following his return to England from the two campaigns abroad, he retuned to his family home at 27 Belmont Villas in 1925, leaving the Army and being appointed in the Reading Post office as a Postman, this appearing in the London Gazette of 3rd August of 1928.
During the first quarter of 1929 Wilfred married Louisa May Belcher in Wantage, just before the Wall Street Crash and subsequent Great Depression, they had three children Dennis W born in 1929, Anthony 1932 and Rita 1933.
In 1930 he was appointed as a Driver and Postman for the Wantage office of the Post Office and in 1935 lived with Louisa at 5, Council Houses, Wantage, where he was still living in 1939 and shown as serving in the Air Raid Precautions as “ARP Decontamination – Postal Section” - part of a team to help in case of Gas bombing from German Aircraft and securing contaminated debris.
On 14th November 1944 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Berkshire ACF with service number 332711 and following the end of the war awarded his Defence Medal. On 1st April 1950, he was promoted to Lieutenant and on 10th April 1956 awarded his Cadet Forces Medal as an Acting Captain.
In 1959, aged 60 Wilfred retired from his Civil Service role in the Post Office being awarded his Imperial Service Medal and further was discharged from the ACF on reaching the age limit with the honorary rank of Captain.
By 1961 Wilfred and Louisa are living at 31 Oxford Lane, Abingdon and he passed away during the last quarter of 1963 aged 64 and Louisa 13 years later during the third quarter of 1976.
During the first quarter of 1929 Wilfred married Louisa May Belcher in Wantage, just before the Wall Street Crash and subsequent Great Depression, they had three children Dennis W born in 1929, Anthony 1932 and Rita 1933.
In 1930 he was appointed as a Driver and Postman for the Wantage office of the Post Office and in 1935 lived with Louisa at 5, Council Houses, Wantage, where he was still living in 1939 and shown as serving in the Air Raid Precautions as “ARP Decontamination – Postal Section” - part of a team to help in case of Gas bombing from German Aircraft and securing contaminated debris.
On 14th November 1944 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Berkshire ACF with service number 332711 and following the end of the war awarded his Defence Medal. On 1st April 1950, he was promoted to Lieutenant and on 10th April 1956 awarded his Cadet Forces Medal as an Acting Captain.
In 1959, aged 60 Wilfred retired from his Civil Service role in the Post Office being awarded his Imperial Service Medal and further was discharged from the ACF on reaching the age limit with the honorary rank of Captain.
By 1961 Wilfred and Louisa are living at 31 Oxford Lane, Abingdon and he passed away during the last quarter of 1963 aged 64 and Louisa 13 years later during the third quarter of 1976.
|
|
Wilfred Fidler's Medal Index Card showing award of the General Service and India General Service Medals
The Story The medal group awarded to Wilfred Fidler were acquired from E-Bay on 14th July 2024, having seen previously when shown at a Birmingham Medal Society presentation by Worcestershire Medal Services.
They were of interest because of the unusual combination of medals and the double long service element.
Research had already been completed, but Ancestry enabled some additional detail to be added and a pleasant surprise was the inclusion of a picture of Wilfred with his Army Cadet Force band, towards the end of the war, he, wearing the GSM and IGSM ribbons on his battle dress.
The medals appear to have been recently re-mounted with the IGSM and GSM being in the wrong order. However they have left as acquired.
They were of interest because of the unusual combination of medals and the double long service element.
Research had already been completed, but Ancestry enabled some additional detail to be added and a pleasant surprise was the inclusion of a picture of Wilfred with his Army Cadet Force band, towards the end of the war, he, wearing the GSM and IGSM ribbons on his battle dress.
The medals appear to have been recently re-mounted with the IGSM and GSM being in the wrong order. However they have left as acquired.
Wilfred Fidler's Pension Index Card
Wilfred with his Army Cadet Force Band circa 1947. (wearing the GSM and IGS ribbons).
Silver War Badge award card
Medal Details:
- India General Service Medal: 5330062 PTE.W.FIDLER. R.BERKS.R.
- General Service Medal: 5330062 PTE.W.FIDLER. R.BERKS.R.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Imperial Service Medal: WILFRED FIDLER
- Cadet Forces Medal: CAPT W.FIDLER
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Hector Charles FEVERYEAR
Go to next Page: Alfred FIELDER
Go to Previous Page: Hector Charles FEVERYEAR
Go to next Page: Alfred FIELDER
This page last updated 27 Nov 24
480
