{"product_id":"mixed-collection-of-medals-other-items-to-arthur-curry-2-10th-bn-middlesex-regiment-wounded-at-gallipoli-wiltshire-special-constabulary-2-x-rare-american-red-cross-certificates-to-his-wife-dorothy-curry-a-volunteer-at-the-donut-dugout-devizes","title":"Mixed collection of medals \u0026 other items to ARTHUR CURRY, 2\/10th Bn Middlesex Regiment (wounded at Gallipoli) \u0026 Wiltshire Special Constabulary, \u0026 2 x rare American Red Cross certificates to his wife DOROTHY CURRY, a volunteer at the ‘DONUT DUGOUT’ Devizes","description":"\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eMM-MED-0016\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eYou are looking at a mixed but unfortunately incomplete \u003ci\u003e(missing British War \u0026amp; Victory Medal) \u003c\/i\u003ecollection of medals, 4 x in total, and other items relating to ARTHUR CURRY, who served with the Middlesex Regiment during WW1, was seriously wounded at Gallipoli, and had a long and distinguished post-war voluntary service with the Wiltshire Special Constabulary, including police service during WW2, along with two very interesting and rare WW2 ‘American Red Cross’ certificates awarded to his wife DOROTHY, who served as a volunteer at the ‘DONUT DUGOUT’ in Devizes, supporting thousands of United States troops training in the area in preparation for D-Day and the Normandy landings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThis ‘what you see is what you get’ collection looks disjointed and is a bit of a mixed bag, but research has revealed a multi-faceted husband and wife story that spans both world wars, and details a dedicated service to the military and the police, and voluntary service supporting foreign troops preparing for one of the most important events in modern world history, making the collection much more interesting than it may seem at first glance, and a fascinating insight into military and police service life as well as the social history surrounding civilians who volunteered their services to support the war effort during WW2.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThe collection consists of:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e1914-15 Star inscribed ‘2817 PTE. A.C.CURRY. MIDD’X R.’\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eSilver War Badge inscribed ‘476620’ – awarded to ARTHUR CURRY.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eSpecial Constabulary Medal inscribed ‘ARTHUR C CURRY’ – The medal is missing its ribbon.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eMedal Ribbon bar ‘Long Service 1944’ – Bar is loose so not attached to medal.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDefence Medal 1939-1945.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e1953 Queen’s Coronation Medal.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eWiltshire Special Constabulary badge with King’s Crown.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol;\"\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eBritish Legion badge inscribed ‘246629’, ‘RD 684409’, ‘BIRMINGHAM MEDAL CO’.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eMedal ribbon bar - WW1 trio, plus ‘Defence Medal’.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eMedal ribbon bar - Special Constabulary Long Service Medal with long service 3 x rosettes attached, 1953 Queen’s Coronation Medal.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eMedal ribbon bar single, 1939-1945 War Medal (WW2).\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol;\"\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e‘AMERICAN RED CROSS Certificates of Devoted Service’, awarded to Mrs DOROTHY CURRY‘ – ARC Devizes Wiltshire dated 27\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e December 1944.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e       \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e‘AMERICAN RED CROSS Certificates of Devoted Service’, awarded to Mrs DOROTHY CURRY – Donut Dugout Devizes 5\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e July 1945.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eLoose British War Medal ribbon.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eWW1 Service \u0026amp; Gallipoli\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eOn the 22\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of October 1914, ARTHUR enlisted into the 2\/10\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e (Reserve) Battalion (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) the Middlesex Regiment, service number 2817, with his home address at the time recorded as The Ridge, High Road, Wealdstone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eAccording to his medal record, he first entered the Balkans (Gallipoli) theatre of war on the 18\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of July 1915, although the ‘The Long, Long Trail’ suggests that was the date the battalion sailed from Devonport, and, travelling via Imbros in Turkey, they continued on to Gallipoli where they landed as Suvla Bay at midnight on the 8\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\/9\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eAccording to the available military records, on the 10\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August 1915, so the day after his battalion landed on the beaches, ARTHUR sustained a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, and he was recorded in the War Office Casualty List dated the 15\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of September as having been wounded and entitled to wear a ‘Wound Stripe’, and he was awarded the Silver War Badge (serial number 476620) that is within this collection in recognition of his injury. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThere is also an entry in the Harrow Observer Newspaper,\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edated the 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of September 1915, to the effect that Private ARTHUR CYRIL CURRY of the 2\/10\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion the Middlesex Regiment had been wounded in the Dardanelles, having sustained a gunshot through the right shoulder shortly after landing on the Peninsula, and he was being treated at the Citadel Military Hospital in Cairo. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eARTHUR was back in England on the 9\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of October 1915, so prior to the 10\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion’s evacuation from Gallipoli that took place in the December of 1915. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eFollowing his service in the Balkans, ARTHUR was posted to the Eastern Command Depot (6\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e May 1916), a military rehabilitation and convalescent camp, he was then transferred to the 607\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Home Service Employment Company (6\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e July 1917), and then compulsorily transferred to the Royal Defence Corps (service number 75876) on the 28\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1918, with a later document suggesting he was in the 51\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Company. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eARTHUR married DOROTHY LOUISE PUTTICK on the 27\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1918, the day before his compulsory transfer to the RDC, and in the marriage record he is described as a private soldier with the 106\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Employment Company of the Labour Corps, with his address provided as Eastern Command Depot, Kingston-on-Sea. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eWiltshire Special Constabulary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eAfter leaving the army, ARTHUR went on to join the Wiltshire Special Constabulary, and it appears he served for many years, being awarded the King GEORGE VI Special Constabulary Long Service Medal with ‘Ind Imp’ legend denoting issue between 1937 and 1948, and on the Special Constabulary LS Medal ribbon bar that is within this collection, the ribbon has 3 x rosettes attached, denoting extra periods of service, with a loose ‘Long Service 1944’ bar also within the collection...And it is his long service that probably led to him being one of only 18 x serving officers (regular \u0026amp; Special Constabulary) within the Wiltshire Constabulary nominated for the award of the 1953 Queen’s Coronation Medal. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eAs to when he joined the Special Constabulary, this is not clear, because the issue of rosettes for extra service took into account service during WW2, and the time served during the conflict was tripled due to the nature of the work constables were involved in, however, with King GEORGE VI having started his reign in December 1936, then the issue of the medal with this sovereign’s head would have been 1937 onwards, and that would mean ARTHUR could not have joined the Specials until 1928 at the very earliest, to have served 9 x years making him eligible for the award of the medal in 1937, so he joined at some point from 1928, and with other criteria taken into account, probably at some point from 1928-1930, although this time period has not been confirmed beyond doubt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThe 1953 Queen’s Coronation Medal is interesting because those for sale are very often unattributed, in that the recipient is unknown. As for numbers and criteria, only around 129,000 -138,000 were awarded to people from various walks of public service life, and where the police and emergency services were concerned, it was awarded to prominent members who demonstrated significant contribution to their communities, a great accolade for ARTHUR, bearing in mind he was one of only 18 x Wiltshire officers who were nominated for the award across of the whole of the Wiltshire Constabulary, those receiving it being the Chief Constable, Assistant Chief Constable, 5 x Superintendents, 2 x Inspectors, 4 x Sergeants, 1 x Detective Constable, 1 x Special Inspector, 2 x Special Sergeants (including ARTHUR) and 1 x Special Constable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eHe would have been just over 60 years old in 1953 when he received the Queen’s Coronation Medal and was still serving with the Special Constabulary at the time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDOROTHY CURRY’S \u0026amp; the ‘American Red Cross – DONUT DUGOUT’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eIn addition to the items relating to ARTHUR CURRY and his army and Special Constabulary career, the collection also includes two certificates that were awarded by the ‘American Red Cross’ (ARC) to his wife DOROTHY CURRY, acknowledging and praising her for the work she had done.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoListParagraph\" style=\"text-indent: -18pt; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-list: Ignore;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e          \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThe first, dated the 27\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of December 1944, recognised over 150 x hours of faithful and loyal VOLUNTEER service to the US armed forces, and was signed by the director of the ARC (American Red Cross) with the address Devizes, Wiltshire recorded.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThe second, dated the 5\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of July 1945, recognised over 500 x hours of faithful and loyal VOLUNTEER service to the US armed forces, and was signed by the director, with the address ‘DONUT DUGOUT’, Devizes recorded. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThe ‘DONUT DUGOUT’ as it was referred to, was a corrugated Nissan hut situated on the Green in Devizes. It was run by the ‘American Red Cross’ (ARC) as a club and canteen and served donuts and drinks to the US troops stationed in the area, many of whom were in training, on Salisbury Plain etc, in preparation for D-Day. It was designed to provide some comforts of home and boost the morale of\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eUS troops in the build-up to Operation Overlord and their eventual deployment onto the beaches of Normandy, and local woman such as DOROTHY, ‘Donut Dollies’ as they were referred to, volunteered to help, frying literally thousands of donuts to be eaten by the US troops, and these certificates were awarded in recognition of the work they did in supporting the operation. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDevizes was a key location, an official marshalling area for US troops making their way to the south coast and eventual deployment to the beaches along the Normandy coast, and for some of those troops, the ‘DONUT DUGOUT’ would have been one of the last comfortable meeting places they experienced before heading to Europe. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003eA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eRTHUR CYRIL CURRY was the son of ARTHUR and KATE CURRY, and he was born in 1892, with his birth registered at West Ham (June quarter, volume 41 page 357), although a later historical record suggests he was born on the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1893. He married DOROTHY LOUISE PUTTICK (Born 3\u003csup\u003erd\u003c\/sup\u003e July 1895 at Broadwater in Worthing, daughter of WILLIAM EDWARD and JANE PUTTICK) on the 27\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1918, and they eventually settled in the Devizes area, and were living at The Bungalow off Bath Road in the town in 1939, at the start of WW2.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eDOROTHY LOUISE CURRY died c1971\/72, with the event registered at Poole in Dorset in the March quarter of 1872 (volume 7c page 358), and ARTHUR died a few years later, in 1975, with the event registered at Poole in the June quarter of that year (volume 23 page 755).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maddox Medals \u0026 Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54276048683354,"sku":null,"price":450.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1013\/7180\/6042\/files\/CURRYPHOTO1.jpg?v=1781002023","url":"https:\/\/maddoxmedals.co.uk\/products\/mixed-collection-of-medals-other-items-to-arthur-curry-2-10th-bn-middlesex-regiment-wounded-at-gallipoli-wiltshire-special-constabulary-2-x-rare-american-red-cross-certificates-to-his-wife-dorothy-curry-a-volunteer-at-the-donut-dugout-devizes","provider":"Maddox Medals \u0026 Militaria ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}