WW1 British War & Victory Medal pair, G/12518 H.P. Philpward, Queen's Royal West Surrey

A First World War British War Medal and Victory Medal pair named to G/12518 Private Henry Percy Philpward, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He served on the Western Front from July 1916 to the Armistice.

The medals are in good used condition for their age. They have not been polished or spoilt in any way, and they come on their original ribbons, which are in fine condition.

A man who does not exist

Henry Percy Philpward is something of a mystery. Extensive searches of birth, marriage, death and census records from before and after the First World War have found no trace of anyone by this name. In fact, our research has found no one else, anywhere, with the surname Philpward.

Yet he clearly existed as a soldier. His name is recorded the same way throughout his service, and his medals were issued to H.P. Philpward, so a simple clerical error seems unlikely.

The most likely explanation is that he made up the name to enlist. Many men did, for reasons such as wanting to leave a past life behind, being under age, or not wanting to be found. The surname may also be two family names joined together, Philp and Ward.

Whatever the reason, the man behind these medals chose to serve under a name that appears nowhere else.

His service

• 9 July 1916: went overseas to France as a Private with the 9th Battalion, The Queen's, number G/12518
• 23 July 1916: moved to the 6th Battalion, The Queen's, part of 37th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division
• With the 6th Battalion through the later Somme fighting of 1916, and Arras and Cambrai in 1917
• 12 April 1918: left the battalion, at a time of heavy fighting near Albert. He was away for five months, most likely wounded or sick
• 12 September 1918: one day with the 4th Battalion, The Queen's, on his way back to the front
• 14 September to 11 November 1918: back with the 6th Battalion until the Armistice
• Later renumbered 699164 and promoted Lance Corporal in the 22nd Battalion, London Regiment (The Queen's)

The medals

• British War Medal 1914-1918, in silver
• Victory Medal 1914-1919
• Both named on the rim to Pte H.P. Philpward, number 12518, The Queen's
• Mounted on a card with a printed name label
• He was entitled to this pair only. He first went overseas in 1916, so there is no 1914-15 Star