Sergeant Leslie Ernest Firth Royal Army Medical Corps
The Man Leslie Ernest Firth was born on 13th September 1910 in Plumstead, London, son of William a house painter and Margaret. He was the youngest of five children, Rose Edith born in 1904, Edna Mary 1906, William 1905 and Walter Cecil George 1909. The 1911 census shows the family living at 58 Sandy Hill Road in Plumstead, together with a boarder Peter Carr, also a house painter. Following his schooling, Leslie became a Fitter and Turner and joined the British Red Cross Society. In 1938 he was still living with his parents and Rose at Sandy Hill Road and during the third quarter of 1939 aged 29 married Edith E Watkins, a Canteen Store Hand, in Dartford. In the later 1939 census they are shown as living at 46 Gipsy Road, Bexley with Edith’s parents William and Emily, and both Leslie's occupation and membership of the BRCS are noted. Lesley and Edith had two children, Valerie L born in 1942 an Kenneth William born 1944. Leslie's job may have been a reserved occupation as he saw no military service during World War II but appears to been very active with the BRCS as he received the Defence Medal and the Voluntary Medical Services Medal, the latter for 15 years service in the Red Cross. Leslie later enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Army with service number 22258397, in about 1951 aged 41 and promoted to Sergeant. He received the Efficiency Medal with 'Territorial' Clasp for 12 years service in 1963. The electoral register of 1964 shows Leslie and Edith living with Valerie at 21 Hamilton Road, Bexley. Leslie passed away on 10th January 1977 aged just 66 and still living at 21 Hamilton Road. He left £2247.00, was cremated on 19th January at Eltham Cemetery Crematorium, Greenwich and his ashes buried at Border C on 21st, his name appearing in the Book of Remembrance on 10th January.
The Story The medals awarded to Leslie Ernest Firth were acquired from the Dix Noonan Webb auction on 10th December 2019. This was the first time a group medals were acquired, together with Major Basil Haywood, using the live online auction system, and assuming reliable internet connection, not the last. The medals were initially pointed out by Birmingham Medal Society Librarian, John Scott, who himself is not averse to the odd double long service group, and it is for this reason they were bid on. The combination of the Efficiency Medal and Voluntary Medical Services Medal being of interest, this particular combination being the first in this collection. The VMSM is named, but sadly the surname of FIRTH has been spelled FIRLK, however the first names are correct and his membership of the BRCS is confirmed on the 1939 census. Thanks to Ancestry.UK it has been possible to put together a brief biography of another potentially forgotten soldier who voluntarily served his country for a number of years.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal 'Territorial': 22258397 SGT.L.E.FIRTH. R.A.M.C.
- Voluntary Medical Services Medal: LESLIE ERNEST FIRLK
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This page last updated 21 Dec 19