The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 126
Pair: Sergeant A. Spicksley, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, who was killed in action at Kruiseecke Hill, during the First Battle of Ypres, in October 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (6312 Sjt. A. Spicksley. 2/Bord: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (6312 Sjt. A. Spicksley. Bord. R.); Memorial Plaque (Alfred Spicksley) good very fine (3)
£160-£200
Alfred William Spicksley was born in 1882 at New Barnet, Hertfordshire and attested for the Border Regiment in October 1900. He served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War and was awarded the Q.S.A. with 4 clasps.
Following the outbreak of the Great War he served with 14 Platoon in the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front from 5 October 1914, his battalion moving forward to Ypres on 14 October then on to Zillebeke on 15 October and entrenched on Kruiseecke Hill on 20 October with the battalion’s front covering over 2 miles. Second Lieutenant Clancy was killed on 22 October and Captain Gordon and around 14 men were killed on 23 October.
As the enemy began their attack in force on 24 October, the battalion was given the order that - ‘trenches were to be held at all costs’: ;Battalion’s positions came under heavy bombardment - trenches being commanded on three sides by enemy artillery, particularly from guns situated on America Ridge about 1 mile to the south-east. One officer calculated 1500 enemy shells during a 10 hour period. Colonel Wylly notes that it was impossible to leave the trenches by day, rations and supplies having to be brought up by night. There were no telephonic communications - messages being carried by runners, and enemy snipers were operating from 300 yards. Machine- gun section blown out of its position during night and one gun buried. Detachment under Lieutenant Wilson forced to retire to second position. Lieutenant Watson led his party back during night (25th) and upon seeing the enemy advancing in large numbers moved his gun to a more forward position where his section inflicted high casualties from 300 yards throughout the day. party of some 200 Germans entered line to the left of “B” Company and indicated that they wished to surrender. However, when Major Allen and six men moved out to bring them in he was killed with one other man. Front-line trenches held by “A” and “B” Companies taken (26th) - 70 survivors driven to the
rear...later with Headquarters personnel, held off further enemy advance. “C” Company under Captain Molyneux-Seel brought up in support. Battalion ordered to retire to Zandvoorde during evening.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers)
The Registers of Soldiers’ Effects and CWGC both state that Spicksley was killed in action on 23 October 1914 whereas the 1914 Star medal roll states that he was killed in action on 26 October 1914. He was the son of James Spicksley, of New Barnet, Herts and the husband of Jeanie Hall Spicksley, of Braeport, Dunblane, Perthshire. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium, and on the East Barnet Valley War Memorial, New Barnet.
Sold together with a large quantity of photographs and postcards relating to the recipient, his family and the Border Regiment including a portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform and a postcard of 14 Platoon, 2nd Border Regiment, 27 August 1914, sent by the recipient to his mother post dated Pembroke Dock, 11 September 1914; a ticket to the opening ceremony of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres on 24 July 1927 and an associated medallion; A Border Regiment shoulder title; and a booklet entitled ‘Introduction to the registers of the Ypres (Menin Gate) and Tyne Cot, Passchendaele, Memorials, Belgium.’
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