The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 207


Three: Private P. J. Robinson, 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment (Territorial Force), who met his death by shell- fire near Ypres on 17 November 1914 - the first member of his regiment to be killed in action during the Great War


1914 Star, with clasp (2636 Pte. P. J. Robinson. 1/1 Herts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2636 Pte. P. J. Robinson. Herts. R.) nearly extremely fine (3)


£200-£240


Philip James Robinson ‘was the only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Robinson of 75 New Road. Philip, know as “Buff”, was a Sunday School teacher at St. Mary’s and a member of the choir. He joined the Territorial Force at Hertford with the first group of volunteers a few weeks after war broke out. “Buff” went to France in November 1914 [6 Nov] and was the first member of the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment to be killed in action. He met his death by shell-fire on 18 November 1914 whilst his “C” Company rested outside Ypres having just come out of the front line. His parents received the following letter from Major Page Croft, the Commanding Officer of “C” Company: ‘I deeply regret to have to inform you that Private Robinson lost his life from the effects of a German shell yesterday, November 18th. His death was instantaneous, and he could not have suffered pain. He was a splendid young fellow, full of pluck and good spirits, and having known him for so many years I feel his loss keenly. He was the first of our Regiment to die for his country, and I trust it may be a small consolation to you to know that he won the esteem of all officers and men, and that his devotion to duty was an example to his countrymen. Believe me, yours in deepest sympathy - H. P. Croft, Major” “Buff” was 22 years old when he died.’ (Our Boys: Ware Men in the First World War by Derek Armes refers).


Close examination of the war diary of the 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment reveals that the date of Private Robinson’s death was in fact 17 November 1914. This is also the date of death accepted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.


208


Three: Corporal A. E. Boardman, 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, who was killed in action near Ypres on 18 November 1914 - a member of 12 Platoon, E Company, he is clearly identifiable in the well known photograph of his unit taken at Letchworth Train Station immediately following the outbreak of War


1914 Star (2270 Cpl. A. E. Boardman. 1/1 Herts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2270 Cpl. A. E. Boardman. Herts. R.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Ernest Boardman) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280


Arthur Edwin Boardman was born in 1893 at Hove, Sussex and was a resident of Herne Hill, Surrey. He attested for the Hertfordshire Regiment, Territorial Force, on 26 June 1912 and was promoted Corporal in June 1913. A Journalist by profession, he was mobilised on the outbreak of war and served with E Company of the 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment on the Western Front from 6 November. He was killed in action in the early hours of the morning on 18 November as he went from trench to trench with ration supplies, close to Zillebeke, near Ypres. Shortly before his death he was warned, ‘Watch out for the machine guns - they are lively tonight,’ to which he is said to have replied, ‘Never mind that - I have to look after feeding the men.’


He was the son of Leonard Duncan and Eliza Ann Boardman of 238 Croydon Road, Caterham Valley, Surrey and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.


Corporal Boardman and his comrades in 12 Platoon, E Company, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment were photographed standing in full kit on the platform at Letchworth train station immediately after the outbreak of war in August 1914. Having been called to their war stations on 4 August 1914, the Territorials in this famous photograph were waiting for a train to take them to Norfolk to complete three months of training, after which they joined the British Expeditionary Force. Boardman was the first member of the platoon to be killed after their arrival on the Western Front. A copy of a Daily Mail article re the aforementioned photograph is with the lot.


Also sold together with a photograph of the recipient in uniform, 53mm x 36mm; named Record Office enclosure for the 1914 Star; named Record Office enclosure for the British War and Victory Medals; a 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Card with envelope.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


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