BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS-2-LIEUT EDWARD JOSEPH PYKE-ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH THE ARTISTS RIFLES.LATER IN LIFE BECAME KNOWN AS THE FOREMOST EXPERT ON WAX MODELLING- AND AN AUTHOR

British War and Victory Medal.
Named to: 2-LIEUT E.J.PYKE.
Edward Joseph Pyke was born in 1898,and joined the 28th London Regt (Artists Rifles) on 1/06/1916,his occupation given as student,having previously served in the OTC Wellington.He was commisioned into the R.F.A.on 20/02/1918.
On the 21/10/1918,he was blown off his horse by a shell, which hospitalised him,and wounded his horse.He was admitted to the Red Cross hospital at Rouen.
Edward Joseph Pyke continued his education, reading Engineering,and gaining an M.A.
He then worked as an apprentice at Metro Vick in Trafford Park,and as an Engineer on the Cableship Silverfray,before becoming chief technical officer,and head of the estates dept.at the Royal Institute for the blind in 1925, where he remained until his retirement in 1963.
He then began to research Wax Sculptures,His interest in the subject stemmed from inheriting his Fathers collection of wax sculptures in 1953.
In 1973 the Oxford University Press published his research in "A biographical History Of Wax Modellers".He updated this work in 1981, and 1986,with three supplements, which he published privately.These publictions included details of work held in private and public collections worldwide.
He donated a collection of Wax Models to the Victoria and Albert Museum,which also holds his records and papers.
Comes with Officers papers,which includes his attestation papers for the Artists Rifles,plus his pension records, which mainly concern his claim for a pension following the incident where he was blown up by a shell.
The imperial War Museum also hold a photo of Pyke,copy included.
Medals about extremely fine.
Interesting reipient.

Code: 51037