WW1 & 2 BRITISH ARMY GROUP OF 6 MEDALS DRIVER SOWDEN OLD TRAFFORD MANCHESTER

Offered is a group of 6 WW1 & 2 medals to Driver Sowden, who served with the Army Service Corps.

War and Victory Medals. impressed named TS-10248 DVR. W: SOWDEN. A.S.C.; 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence & War Medal un-named as issued. The medals are unmounted and stapled to card. Comes with copies medal index card, medal roll and enlistment papers.

William Sowden was born in 1892 and lived in Old Trafford Manchester when he enlisted at Woolwich on the 10/12/1915 to the Army Service Corps. His occupation was wheelwright. He is recorded as a 'Specially enlisted wheeler."

He served Home 10/12/1915 – 7/3/1917. Salonika 8/3/1917 – 24/5/1918. Home 25/5/1918 – 17/2/1919.

Served with the 115 Coy ASC. This was attached to the 26^th Division Divisional Train. 112, 113, 114 and 115 Coys ASC. On 22 January 1916, the Train was on board the “Norseman” when it was torpedoed in the Gulk of Salonika but all personnel were saved, although 600 mules lost their lives. In October 1916 the Train was reorganised into “Pack and Wheel Echelons”; in July 1917 it was further reorganised, to suit local conditions.

The soldiers in the Salonika campaign had to deal with the harsh climate as well as the enemy. Freezing in winter and boiling in summer, many succumbed to heatstroke. To counter this, travelling was usually undertaken at night.

Malaria proved to be a serious drain on manpower during the campaign. In total the British forces suffered 162,517 cases of the disease and 505,024 non-battle casualties.

It is noted on his papers “Claiming disability” when demobed.