Beschreibung:

An incredible collection of medals, photographs and personal effects relating to the military career of one Ernest Freeman Hillard - a Drummer in the East Surrey Regiment during the First World War, and later a Company Quarter Sergeant and then Major in the Home Guard during WWII. The collection, consigned from the family, includes: - Hillard's medal group, containing both WWI First World War and WWII Second World War medals, thus; WWI War Medal (impressed for 200020 Company Sergeant E. F. Hillard, East Surrey Regiment), WWI Victory Medal (impressed the same), WWI Territorial War Medal (impressed the same), WWII Defence Medal, his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (impressed 20020 Company Quarter Master Sergeant (CQM Sjt) East Surrey Regiment), his George V For Meritorious Service medal (impressed same as previous) and his George VI Faithful Service Medal (impressed ' Ernest Freeman Hillard ') - an original large WWI hand-coloured photograph of Hillard in uniform - a collection of Hillard's WWI & WWII uniform badges, cap badges, buttons and titles - including his Home Guard ' economy ' plastic badge, East Surrey Regiment cap badge, and many buttons. - a collection of ephemera relating to Hillard's time as a Warder at Windsor Castle - including several official Christmas cards, his invitation to the Funeral of King George VI, and even a letter of thanks from a school headmaster for giving an 'interesting and enjoyable' tour of The Castle. - a collection of other related photographs and effects - photographs of Hillard in later life, including him in Masonic regalia, a rather charming 1960's Autograph book - which he filled on his many cruises to Canada during the period - largely filled with military, naval or ship personnel from all corners of the globe, various period newspapers and magazines. - a collection of effects relating to his wife - Mary Gertrude Asprey (of Asprey) including a 1908 ' Asprey Fund ' deed ' Account as to share of Miss Mary Gertrude Asprey ' which lists some £1,500 available. Also included is a period photograph of Asprey - two items relating to his Sister's husband First Class Petty Officer Fred Blunsdon, who was killed during the First World War when his submarine ' D5 ' was sunk in the North Sea by a German mine - the effects comprising a photograph of Blunsdon on his wedding day, and his ' Memorial ' card detailing his death. The family has provided a comprehensive document detailing Hillard's life and many careers. A copy of this (in full) is included within the sale. Excepts, for reference, are included below: ' Born 17th Sep 1888. Enlisted early in the start of the war in 1914, like many veterans he talked very little about the war. He went to Mesopotamia as it was then known and did tell close family about leading the band into an abandoned village and realising that the inhabitants were all dead and hung across the streets on wires...His regiment was moved to Indian and he fought with the Gurkhas.... in Indian he was Acting Drum Major... after the war... he returned to Post Office engineering...in the 1930's he was Senior Engineering Inspector at Slough...his responsibilities included the phones at Windsor Castle and he visited regularly to check them...and quite often met members of the Royal Family including George VI. (During the war) he was a major in the Home Guard and his wife was involved with the Red Cross at Cliveden House is Taplow...in 1948 Ernest became a warder at Windsor Castle, and by the time of the Coronation in 1952 he was Chief Warder and had the pleasure of showing round Queen Salote of Tonga. As a member of the Royal Household he attended many formal occasions and often got tickets for members of his family. In 1956 his wife Gertrude died, he was offered a Grace & Favour home in Windsor Castle but he decided to move to Bristol to live with his daughter and family.... Every other year he sailed to Canada and stayed with his brother Reg who emigrated after the First