THE BISHOP FOX'S GIRLS SCHOOL ATHLETICS PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED TO LOUISE DORA MATHISON, in silver (not hallmarked), circular, 32mm, obverse engraved with the school bdge, a pelican plucking her breast to feed her young, ribbon around engraved "BISHOP FOX'S GIRLS SCHOOL", the plain field engraved beneath "TAUNTON". Reverse, a laurel wreath, engraved within "DORA MATHISON". Integral ring suspension, with its original ribbon and silver top suspender brooch, this engraved "GAMES CHAMPION" and reverse with maker's mark "F&S" (for Fattorini & Sons) and additionally stamped "Sterling", probably circa 1890-1900 vintage. Atractively toned, Almost Extremely Fine to Extremely Fine.
Medal accompanied by biographical details and extract 1911 census return.
Louise Dora Mathison (1905-1978) was born in Thakenham, Sussex, the daughter of Joseph and Louie Sara Matheson (nee Hancock). She is recorded in the 1911 census as a 6 year old school girl resident in New Zealand House, Wearne, Langport, Somerset, with her father, mother, a sister, brother and a servant, her father being recorded in the census return as a surveyor employed by Langport Council (Louise Mathison's first christian name and initial are mistranscribed in the ancestry read-out of the census return Larie S. Louise married Captain Francis William Lochead, Surma Valley Light Horse, at Port Dixon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1/5/1939.
Captain Carslaw (1912-1997) saw service during WW2, was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in February 1942 and was subsequently held as a prisoner of war until September 1945.
Louise Mathison's brother, James Crichton Mathison (1902-1969) saw service during WW2 and was also taken prisoner of war following the fall of Singapore and subsequently imprisoned in Changhi Prisoner of War Camp. His biographical sketch on Ancestry notes that he had his appendix removed "by the side of the road" whilst a prisoner.
Bishop Fox's School was established by Richard Foxe, Bishop of Winchester, in 1522. The school is still in existence, having relocated to a 38 acre site in Taunton, Somerset, the new school premises being officially opened by the then Prime Minister John Major in 1944.
Provenance: Bonham's 16 July 2008, lot 277 (part), when sold with Captain Carslaw's medals, comprising Volunteer Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal George V (Lieutenant, Surma Valley Light Horse), Volunteer Forces Officer's Decoration, George V (Captain, 2nd Surma Valley Light Horse), 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence and War Medal.
