CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS 143 Three: Private W. Saunders, Lancashire Fusiliers, severely wounded at Arras, 21 October 1914
1914 STAR, with clasp (699 Pte. W. Saundes. 2/Lan: Fus.) last letter of surname overstruck; BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (699 Pte. W. Saunders. Lan. Fus.) good very fine (3)
£120-160
William Saunders attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers on 19 June 1905, and served with the 1st Battalion in India for 6 years from 27 November 1907 to 5 February 1914. Transferring to the Army Reserve on 5 April 1914, he was recalled to the Colours on 5 August 1914, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 September 1914. He was severely wounded by gunshot and shellfire to the left elbow and left thigh at Arras on 21 October 1914, which resulted in him spending six weeks in No. 11 General Hospital in France, permanently losing the use of his left arm, and having to have his left leg amputated above the knee. Returning to the U.K. on 3 December 1914, he recovered further in No. 1 Hospital, Exeter, before being discharged on account of his wounds on 24 July 1915, being awarded a Silver War Badge. He died in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Christmas Day 1950.
Sold together with a copy of the recipient’s Medical History, which gives graphic details regarding his injuries; the recipient’s Certificates of Service and Discharge; Third Class Certificate of Education; Pensions Appeal Tribunal letter; Lancashire Fusiliers letter of Reference, dated Karachi, 14 January 1914; and two newspaper cuttings containing photographs of the recipient, the first entitled ‘Gallant Men of Mons’, featuring members of the Blackburn Old Contemptibles’ Association; and the other entitled ‘A Patriotic Blackburn Family’, featuring the recipient, his father, and two brothers, all of whom were under arms in the Great War.
x144 Three: Private J. Foley, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action on the Western Front, 13 October 1914
1914 STAR (6751 Pte. J. Foley. K.O. Sco: Bord.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (6751 Pte. J. Foley. K.O. Sco. Bord.) good very fine (3)
£100-140
John Foley was born in Dumfries, and attested there for the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War, and was killed in action on the Western Front on 13 October 1914, one of 23 casualties that the Regiment suffered that day. He is buried in Brown’s Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, France.
Note: The date of his death is recorded as 13 October 1914 on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll and associated documents, but is erroneously listed as 13 October 1915 in Soldier’s Died in the Great War.
x145
Three: Private G. Smith, King’s Own Scottish Borderers 1914 STAR, with rosette on riband (8674 Pte. G. Smith. K.O. Sco: Bord.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (8674 Pte. G. Smith. K.O. Sco. Bord.) very fine
1914 STAR (7085 Pte. I. Farquharson. K.O. Sco: Bord.) nearly very fine (4) 146 £100-140
Three: Private G. H. Clarke, Middlesex Regiment, who was wounded and taken Prisoner of War at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the first full day of fighting on the Western Front, later dying of his wounds in captivity on 4 November 1914
1914 STAR (L-14684 Pte. G. H. Clarke. 4/Midd’x R.); BRITISHWAR ANDVICTORYMEDALS (L.14684 Pte. G. H. Clarke. Midd’x R.) good very fine (3)
£300-400
George Henry Clarke was born in Homerton, Middlesex, and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Mill Hill, Middlesex, on 14 October 1913, having previously served as a boy soldier with the 5th Battalion, King’s Royal Rile Corps (Special Reserve). He served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, from 14 August 1914, and was present at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the British Expeditionary Forces’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the Mons-Conde canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held fort he time being.’
However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion, which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of War. Clarke was among the casualties- wounded, he was taken prisoner of War by the Germans towards the end of the day. He died of his wounds in captivity on 4 November 1914, and is buried in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Sold together with the recipient’s identity tag; a relic LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL KING’S MEDAL FOR GOOD SCHOOL ATTENDANCE 1910-11, named ‘G. Clarke.’; and various copied research, including photographs of the Obourg Memorial and the recipient’s grave.
147
Three: Nursing Sister Miss Edith A. Illingworth, Civil Hospital Reserve and Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
1914 STAR (Miss E. A. Illingworth. Civ: Hosp: Res.); BRITISHWAR ANDVICTORYMEDALS (Sister E. A. Illingworth.) good very fine, 1914 Star scarce to unit (3)
£300-400
Miss Edith Annie Illingworth was born in Shipley, Yorkshire, in 1877, and was employed at the London Homeopathic Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, prior to joining the Civil Hospital Reserve on 3 November 1914. She served with the C.H.R. during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 November 1914, and was posted to No. 13 Stationary Hospital, subsequently moving to No. 2 Stationary Hospital on 31 August 1917. She departed France on 5 November 1917, after 3 years’ service, resigning her post on the occasion of her marriage.
Sold together with copied service papers.
www.dnw.co.uk
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