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Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (5) Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3444 Cpl. T. G. Nicholls, Devon: Regt.);
KSA (2) (3444 Serjt. T. G. Nicholls. Devon: Regt.);
1914-15 Star (7178 C.S. Mjr. T. G. Nicholls. Devon. R.) heavy scratches to reverse of Star in an attempt to obliterate naming;
British War and Victory Medals (7178 W.O. Cl. 2. T. Nicholls. Devon. R.);
Army LS&GC GV (7178 C.S. Mjr. T. G. Nicholls. Devon. R.)

Thomas George Nicholls was born in Plympton, Devon in 1873. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the Devonshire Regiment at Torquay on 1 February 1892. Initially with the Depot, Exeter he was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Plymouth on 7 July 1894. Promoted to Corporal he was transferred to Reserve on 1 February 1899 but almost immediately recalled for service in South Africa, arriving with the 2nd Battalion in Durban on 19 November 1899 and being promoted Sergeant the next day. The battalion took part in the actions at Colenso, Relief of Ladysmith and the capture of Botha’s Pass (Laing’s Nek). Returning to England with his battalion he re-engaged to complete 21 years’ service on 5 December 1902. Posted to the 1st Battalion he embarked to join them at Shahjahanpur, India, on 17 January 1905 . Returning to England with the 1st Battalion he left them at Malta with a draft posted to the 2nd Battalion then en-route for Candia, Crete to form part of the Inter-nation Garrison serving on the island. Returning to England he was discharged at his own request 31 January 1911.

Aged 41, Nicholls was recalled from Reserve and re-attested at Exeter on 1 September 1914. Posted first to the newly formed 8th (Service) Battalion and then transferred to the 9th (Service) Battalion on 2 October 1914, he was promoted Colour Sergeant and appointed Company Sergeant Major. He embarked with the newly trained 9th Battalion and arrived at Le Havre on 27 July 1915. Taking part in their first action at Loos between 25th and 28th September 1915 he received a gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen and was evacuated to England on 2 October 1915. On recovery he was posted to the 44th Training Reserve Battalion at Wareham and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 October 1917. Finally discharged to pension aged 46 on 29 August 1919, he was subsequently employed as an Electrical Engineer, and died at Mitcham, Surrey on 28 December 1936, aged 63

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Transvaal (5450 Pte. J. Phelp [sic]. Devon: Regt.);
KSA (2) (5450 Pte. J. Philp. Devon: Regt.);
1914 Star, with clasp (5450 Pte. S. Philps [sic]. 1/Devon R.);
British War and Victory Medals (5450 Pte. S. Philps [sic]. Devon. R.)

Louis Stanley Philp was born in Bodmin, Cornwall in 1881. He attested for the Devonshire Regiment on 1 October 1899 and embarked for South Africa 17 October 1900 to join the 2nd Battalion. Returning to England in 1903 he subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion and at the outbreak of the Great War was stationed at St Helier, Jersey. The battalion embarked for France and joined the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre on 22 August 1914. Taking part in the early actions, he was wounded leading to him being medically discharged on 29 March 1915. Returning to Cornwall he died at Lostwithiel on 6 April 1962, aged 81.

To add a bit more colour to Stanley's medal shown above; here is a picture of him with his son (Herbert) whilst wearing his medals:

In this picture his son Herbert had just received his Distinguished Service Medal for operations associated with the Salerno landings in WW2.

Louis (known as Stanley) was one of sixteen Lostwithiel men who fought in the Boer War (1899-1902). On his return he was presented with a medal on behalf of the town similar to this one:


www.angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/2...s/l/4338-lostwithiel

Louis Stanley was also on active service in India and France during WW1, until, through injury he was invalided out.

Stanley was wounded in both legs (thighs) on the 27th August 1914 barely a month into the Great War.

During the 1930's Louis Stanley became the Landlord of the Royal Oak Lostwithiel, where he lived with his family.

He was also at this time appointed Town Sergeant and Town Crier by Lostwithiel Borough Council and wore , with pride the , the black cloak with the bullet hole ( the same cloak worn by Town Sergeant, Joseph Burnett, when he was fatally shot by a drunken soldier in Aug 1814). The cloak was eventually replaced and is now in the Lostwithiel Museum.

Louis Stanley held these positions into the 1950's.

He went on to reside in King Street on his retirement with his wife.