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| The
Territorial Force War Medal |
| Introduced during World War
One, the Territorial Force War Medal was only awarded
to 34,000 service personnel. The criteria for qualifying
for this medal were very specific: |
- You had to be a member of the Territorial Force;
- You had to have begun serving before 30 September
1914;
- You had to have completed four years service by
that date;
- You had to have served outside the United Kingdom
between 4 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.
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![[image] The Territorial Force War Medal](images/new-images/terrotorialforcewarmedal.jpg)
The
Territorial Force
War Medal
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![[image] Private Frank Sidaway](images/new-images/franksidaway.jpg) |
Private 306736 Frank Sidaway,
a gunner in 'D' Battalion Tank Corps during World War
One, was one of the 34,000 to qualify for this medal.
He took part in such actions as the Battle of Arras in
April 1917, when the British attacked the Hindenburg Line. |
| The Tank Museum
is fortunate to possess a sound recording of Private Sidaway's
memories of World War One. The following is an extract
which gives an account of tank fighting at this time: |
| Private
Frank Sidaway |
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| "...as we went round the village,
we turned the corner and suddenly I saw a German officer
riding a horse with his back toward us, and I shouted
to my mate, my pal Tango, "Grape!"…grapeshot
means that when it leaves the gun it spreads not with
bullets…with anything that will kill - scrap iron,
old nails, scrap metal, anything…I pulled the trigger
and he was gone…That was the first time I can remember
killing a German." |
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All Private Sidaway's medals are
on display in the World War One Hall
at the Museum, including the Military Medal for bravery. He
died in 1988, aged 91. |
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in this series, click
here |
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