Henry Charles Pappin

Royal Garrison Artillery

Personal Details

Born: 6 October 1893 in Prenton, Cheshire.

Family: He was the eldest of two children born to George and Eliza Pappin. He married Dorothy Victoria Purkiss on 26 December 1925 in Bombay, India and together they had one child, Barbara J, born in 1931 in Bromley, Kent.

Education: He attended Whitchurch Free Grammar School from 1901 to 1905 and boarded at Newbury Grammar School from January 1905 to July 1911.

Residence: In 1901 he was living with his uncle at Great Glenn, Main Road, Glen Magna, Billesden, Leicestershire. In 1911 he was boarding at Newbury Grammar School, Enborne Road, Newbury, Berkshire (his mother lived in Talbot Street, Whitchurch). The 1919 Absent Voters’ Register gives his address as 4 Dodington, Whitchurch which was the address of his mother and sister. He left for India on 20 March 1919 on SS Nankin (Peninsular and Steam Navigation Company Ltd) working in Bombay with a forwarding address through the Eastern Bank Ltd. He returned to the UK prior to 1931, settling in Kent. His address at the time of his death was 14 Kelsey Way, Beckenham.

Employment: When he left school he was a bank clerk; his marriage certificate indicates he was a bank manager (working for The Eastern Bank Ltd whilst in India).

Died: 16 January 1938 in Beckenham, Kent, aged 44.

Military Details

Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery (previously Army Pay Corps) 

Rank: Lieutenant (commissioned 26 May 1917)

Service Number: 2154 (Army Pay Corps)

Date of Enlistment: Not known

Date of Discharge: Not known

Reason for Discharge: Not known

Medals and Awards

Henry was awarded the Campaign Medals (1915 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal)

Campaign Medals

Great War History Hub Whitchurch Shropshire Medals Front Image

The 1914 Star (also known as 'Pip') was authorised under Special Army Order no. 350 in November 1917 and by an Admiralty Fleet Order in 1918, for award to officers and men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight of 22–23 November 1914. The former date is the day after Britain's declaration of war against the Central Powers, and the closing date marks the end of the First Battle of Ypres.

The 1914–15 Star (also known as 'Pip') was instituted in December 1918 and was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served against the Central European Powers in any theatre of the Great War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. The period of eligibility was prior to the introduction of the Military Service Act 1916, which instituted conscription in Britain.

The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.

The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.



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