£365
Out of stock
A donation from the profits of this sale will be made to the Royal British Legion Scotland, a charitable organization that continues to work today to provide support for current and ex service men and women.
An exceedingly rare and important piece of Scottish WWI military history, connected to the tiny island of Papa Westray in the Orkney Isles.
In WWI, hundreds of thousands of young men signed up together to join the war effort and were formed into regiments that were centred around their home towns. The remote islands of Scotland were no different, and all the young men signed up to form the Highland battalions. While this meant the boys had friends and familiar faces alongside them as they went off to war, it had a devastating effect on them and their local communities when they went into battle; with swathes of men being killed in a single day during some of the biggest battles of WWI.
This exceptional jewel is not an official government-issued medal but was funded by the islanders of Papa Westray to be given to the few brave boys that made it back home – I can find record of only one other. The island of Papa Westray (or Papay) as it’s known locally is just 3.5 square miles, and today houses a population of just under 100 people. You can find out more about the island [here].
With only one other similar such medal so this an exceptionally rare piece of Scottish military history. It features a beautifully folk-art engraved galleon with the dedication ‘A War Token From Papa Westray’. To the reverse it is dedicated to the service of William Cursiter, and has a crisp full hallmark showing it was made in 1919.
Thanks to the diligence of local historians I’ve managed to track down a full account of William’s military service; he enlisted in 1915, got his orders in 1916 and went off to war, seeing action at some of the most awful of WWI battles. He lost many of his friends at the Somme where he was injured serious in the right leg and lay wounded on the battlefield until the next day, or possibly several days. When he managed to make his way off the battlefield his leg has become infected and he had to have three amputations, to below the thigh and was invalided out of the Army in May 1917. You can read a fully researched account of William’s service here [Cursiter Bio], and it even mentions this war token that was specially made by the residents of Papa Westray to show their appreciation for his war sacrifice (albeit it’s described erroneously as bronze, not gold).
It has been a privilege to research this important jewel, and I recently travelled to the Orkney Isles to see this beautiful part of the country for myself. I made several enquiries about donating this medal (free of charge) to the islanders of Papa Westray but it didn’t come to pass, so I would like this special piece to go to someone who will properly appreciate and commemorate William’s service.
ERA: Edwardian – 1919
MATERIAL: 9ct Rose Gold – a particularly beautiful pinkish tone with full hallmark
SIZE: 3cm not included jump ring
WEIGHT: 2.9grams
CONDITION: Great antique condition – the engraving is done in the naïve folk-art style and is most charming, remaining crisp with minimal signs of wear. Full clear hallmark. The token itself is lightweight – at 0.5mm deep – but with no dents / warping and a lovely heavy weight original jump ring.
Box and chain is for illustration only but this piece will come beautifully gift wrapped. Please see photos – more and video available on request.
SHIPPING: Free inside the UK and to the US – Please note that buyers are responsible for any import or customs charges.
| ERA | Edwardian |
|---|---|
| METAL | Rose Gold |
Original price was: £1,145.£1,000Current price is: £1,000.
