A Rare WW1 Bushehr (Iran) Campaign WW1 Twice Wounded Medal Trio awarded to 2807 Pte Bert Singleton, 2/5th Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry.

Bertram (Bert) Ernest Linor Singleton was born on the 11th March, 1896, at Bridgewater, Somerset. During WW1 he joined the ranks of the Somerset Light Infantry, disembarking Mesopotamia/Bushehr on the 7th of August 1915 with the 2/5th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.

On August 8, 1915, a British expeditionary force (consisting largely of British Indian Army troops) entered Bushehr from land and sea with the support of naval artillery and announced the occupation of Bushehr by issuing a city-wide proclamation. In this announcement, it was stated that Major Arthur Prescott Trevor has taken over all the affairs of the Bushehr government with the position of "Commander of the Military Government on behalf of the British Government". On the other hand, because the Iranian government cannot establish "order and security in the city of Bushehr and its surroundings", Britain was forced to take this action. According to the announcement, this action was "taken by His Majesty's government due to necessity. A necessity due to aboriginal tribes recent unfortunate attack on Bushehr in which two British officers were killed and three soldiers were injured.

Stamp issued with "Bushire Under British Occupation" seal;

Britain's action was the beginning of the series of struggles of the Tanganistas along with the help of Wassmuss against the occupation of Bushehr. One of the noteworthy points in the occupation of Bushehr was that the British sealed the stamps with their desired title. On these stamp it was written: "Bushire Under British Occupation". It is said that until the end of the occupation of Bushehr in October 1915, some types of this stamp were printed.

During this invasion, the British forces disarmed the local Gendarmare of Bushehr, seized three Iranian vessels stationed in the Bushehr port including the Mozaffari Frigate, and armed boats named "Azerbaijan" and "Mazandaran". British forces raised the Union Flag over the seat of government of Bushehr. 14 residents of Bushehr who protested the occupation the day after it commenced were arrested and deported to India.

Pte Singleton is listed as “Wounded” on the 21st of February 1916, suffering gun shot wounds to his left thigh and knee. He is later listed as “Wounded”, on the 6th of July 1916 (non specific?), awarded S.W.B No. 113746. Bert was discharged from Military Service on the 24th of January, 1917, due to his wounds.

The medals are sold with the original named boxes of issue, medal slips, O.H.M.S named envelopes, copied research confirming the above, and are as follows -

1914/15 Star, 2807 PTE. B. SINGLETON. SOM. L. I.; British War & Victory Medals, 2807 PTE B. SINGLETON.

Condition, Very fine and better

A very good collectable trio.