A Most Interesting and Unusual B.E.M. to Sergeant H. Laming, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, Four Times Mayor of Mossley 

4601438 Sergeant Harry Laming, B.E.M.

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British Empire Medal, Military Division, G.VI.R. (4601438 Sgt. H. Laming), minor edge bruise, otherwise extremely fine

B.E.M. London Gazette 2.1.1939 No.4601438 Sergeant Harry Laming, 7th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding), Territorial Army.

4601438 Sergeant Harry Laming, B.E.M., joined the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment as a boy in 1901 and served continuously with that Battalion, later renamed the 7th Battalion, until 1941, the majority of those years as the Officers' Mess Sergeant. He was also active in the civic life of his home town, as an Alderman and four times Mayor of Mossley, Lancashire, as well as a Justice of the Peace. One of his proudest days was a 'middle Sunday' in camp when he spent the morning in shirt sleeves preparing the Officers' Mess for lunch, and then emerged resplendent in top hat and Mayoral chain to be welcomed by his commanding officer as the chief guest at that same lunch (the recipient's Obituary in The Iron Duke journal refers). Sergeant Laming mobilized with his Battalion in 1939, serving with the Battalion in Iceland until being invalided home in 1941. He died 18.3.1947.

Extract from the "Iron Duke":

The 7th Battalion has of late years achieved fame in the Press and the Battalion which takes a mayor to camp as mess sergeant. We were very glad to see the Honours List last january that Sgt Harry Laming had been rewarded for his long service to the 7th battalion and to his town by the award of the medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. From what we know of Sgt Laming we are sure that few men have better deserved such an honour, and we offer him our sincere congratulations. Sgt Laming has served with the 7th Battalion for 32 years, and since the war has been employed as Officers' Mess sergeant. He had taken a great interest in the public work of his home town of Mossley, and has held office as Mayor and Deputy Mayor as under: - 1932-33, Mayor; 1933-34, Deputy Mayor; 1934-35 Mayor; 1935-36 Deputy Mayor; 1936-37, Mayor; 1937-38 Deputy Mayor. He is also an Alderman and a Justice of the Peace, and is at present Chairman of the Highways Committee and a member of the New Industries Committee. As Officers' Mess sergeant he has displayed the greatest initiative, and all his spare time and interests are devoted to the welfare of the Battalion.

Obituary

LAMING - On 18 March 1947 the 7th DWR lost one of its oldest and most faithful members - Sgt Harry Laming. Col G.B. Howcroft writes - Harry Laming joined the 2nd VB as a boy in 1901 and served continuously with that battalion and its offspring, the 7th Battalion until 1941. He was well know to a whole generation of officers during the first world war as Mess sergeant of the reserve unit, and to another generation, as well as to a multitude of guests, as the Mess sergeant of the 7th Battalion during the 20 years between the two wars. No longer young, he mobilized in 1939 with his customary enthusiasm and, though war-time changes in the Battalion brought trials and difficulties with them, he went to Iceland and continued to serve his beloved officers till he had to come home a very sick man in 1941. His life since then was a losing, but always cheerful, battle against illness.

Sgt Laming was active also in the public life of his twon. He was four times Mayor of Mossley, and one of the proudes days of his life was acertain "middle Sunday" of camp when he spent the morning in shirt sleeves preparing lunch, but emerged resplendent in top hat and chain to be welcomed by his commanding officer as chief guest at that same lunch. His service was not without reward. He received the British Empire Medal, and more recently was given the Freedom of the Borough of Mossley. But the reward most appreciated most, and which he had in full measure, was the high regard and affection of the officers and other ranks of the Battalion which always came first in his thoughts.