Six: Major T. K. Wigan, Devonshire Regiment, who served as Political Officer during Siege...

Six: Major T. K. Wigan, Devonshire Regiment, who served as Political Officer during Siege of Kufah, and was three times Mentioned in Despatches

British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. T. K. Wigan); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq, with M.I.D. oak leaf (T. K. Wigan.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (6) £300-£400

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M.I.D. London Gazettes 21 February 1919 (Mesopotamia); 12 January 1920 (Mesopotamia); and 9 September 1921 (Siege of Kufah).

Thomas Keble Wigan was born in Ladbroke Square, Kensington, London in 1892 and was educated at Radley and Christ Church, Oxford. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 6th (Territorial) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, on 22 August 1914, he embarked with his battalion for India on 9 October 1914. Following intensive training in India the 1/6th Battalion disembarked at Basra, Mesopotamia on 6 January 1916 and then commenced the 230 miles march on foot up the banks of the River Tigris to El Orah. Recorded as in command No. 1 Platoon when he drove the enemy off in action on 3 March 1916, the battalion subsequently took part in the attempted relief of Kut during the action at Es Sinn Dujailah Redoubt on 8 March 1916. Promoted Lieutenant in March 1916 and Acting Captain on 9 June 1916 he was invalided to India and joined the Depot of the 2/6th Battalion at Chakrata on 4 August 1916. Returning to the 6th Battalion in Mesopotamia with the rank of Captain he assumed command of the detachment at Tel-El-Lahm on 20 October 1917, and was appointed Company Commander of ‘C’ Company on 31 May 1918.

Wigan was gazetted Officer serving under the Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, he was appointed Assistant Political Officer, Najaf, Shamiyah Division on 13 October 1919. Following two months home leave he returned to Iraq and was appointed Assistant Political Officer, Kufah, on 19 July 1920. Kufah was besieged by Iraqi rebels for three months from July to October 1920 with many lives lost. Captain Wigan is recorded as the sole Political Officer surviving the siege for which he was Mentioned in Despatches. Subsequently appointed Under Secretary to the High Commissioner for Iraq 1921-23 before returning home, he was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn on 6 May 1925.

Residing in Bagshot, Surrey, Wigan was recalled for service during the Second World War and was appointed Second Lieutenant (Admin Branch) Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 2 June 1941 and was posted to the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration Cyrenaica, North Africa on 11 April 1942. Appointed Political Officer and promoted Temporary Captain on 4 August 1942 he was attached to Civil Affairs Branch GHQ on 26 July 1943 before being appointed Legal Officer, Eritrea later that month. Proceeding to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on temporary duty on 11 October 1944 he was appointed Judge of the High Court of Ethiopia 1944-45. His next appointment was as Legal Officer to the British Military Authority Dodecanese Islands, Aegean Sea, arriving on 9 November 1945 with promotion to Acting Major. Promoted Temporary Major on 10 February 1946, he relinquished his appointment as Legal Officer 17 March 1946 and embarked for UK for release on 26 March 1946, his Second War service earning him the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and War Medal 1939-45. Returning to the legal profession at home he was appointed to the Woking Magistrates’ Court in 1947. He died at Lincolns Inn, Holborn on 6 March 1957, aged 64.

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