1914-15 Star (T-35523 SJT. W. FINLEY. R.A.M.C.); British War Medal (35523 SJT. W. FINLEY. R.A.M.C.); Victory Medal with M.I.D. Oakleaf (35523 SJT. W. FINLEY. R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal; Meritorious Service Medal GVR (S-294615 SJT. W. FINLEY. R.A.S.C.) - with accompanying miniature medals and a medal ribbon bar.
William Finley was born in Aston, Warwickshire on 29 December 1894. A Railway Clerk he attested for service with the R.A.M.C. on 9 September 1914, a months after hostilities commenced. Assigned no. 35523 he was posted to Egypt on 5 July 1915, serving with 39th Field Ambulance. Finley was Wounded in Action - Gunshot Wound Left Forearm - at Gallipoli on 29 August 1915 and was evacuated by Hospital Ship to Cairo for treatment. The War Diary for 30 August 1915 reads thus:
"This morning the 1/4 Northants Regiment were marching by to the Trenches, and as they came to the Aghyl Dere Gulley, about 200 yards from our Dressing Station, they came under severe shrapnel fire" Finley is noted as the only casualty the 39th FA sustained that day (29 August)
He applied for a transfer to the Clerks section of the Royal Army Service Corps at Amara on 25 October 1916. After a spot of leave he was posted to India in July 1917, disembarking at Bombay. Having returned to England he was struck off strength and posted to the Reserve on 23 March 1919. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in the London Gazette of 22 September 1919 for meritorious services in Mesopotamia. He was Mentioned in Dispatches in the LG of 19 February 21 February 1919 where he was stated to be with the 888th Coy (Balsall).
Having survived the war, Finley, according to the 1921 census, was an Assistant Controller (Railway Traffic) with the Midland Railway Company living at 24 Balsall Heath Road in Balsall Heath.
At the time of the 1939 Register he was the Chief Inspector (Railway Traffic Department) and was also with the A.R.P. where he would have earned his Defence Medal. He was living at 33 Primley Avenue, Birmingham at the time. He later worked for Erdington and British Rail and passed away on 27 March 1968.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with comprehensive research.
