The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 149
Four: Corporal J. Freeman, 8th (Service) Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder and hand during the German attack on Vimy Ridge on 21 May 1916, during which action Lieutenant R. B. B. Jones, of the same Battalion, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross
1914-15 Star (15597 Cpl. J. Freeman. L. N. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (15597 Cpl. J. Freeman. L. N. Lan. R.); Imperial Service Medal,
G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Freeeman) good very fine (4)
£80-£120
John Freeman was born in 1880 at Garston, Liverpool and attested for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Seaforth, Liverpool on 10 September 1914. Posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion, he was promoted Corporal on 1 October 1914 and served on the Western Front from 25 September 1915. Whilst serving with B Company, during the battalion’s first action - in defence of the German attack on Vimy Ridge on 21 May 1916 - he received gunshot wounds to the shoulder and hand and was invalided to England.
Lieutenant R. B. B. Jones, of the same battalion, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for gallantry at Vimy on 21 May 1916. A digest of his citation reads: ‘On 21st May 1916 at Broadmarsh Crater, Vimy, France, Lieutenant Jones was in charge of a platoon holding the position recently captured from the enemy. Forty yards away the enemy exploded a mine and isolated the platoon by a heavy barrage of fire. Being attacked by overwhelming numbers, the platoon was in great danger, but Lieutenant Jones organised his men and set a fine example by shooting 15 of the enemy as they advanced. When all his ammunition had been used, he was about to throw a bomb when he was shot through the head.’
Corporal Freeman was transferred to the 2/2 Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment and permanently discharged on 13 June 1917 in consequence of further aggravating an old knee injury and no longer being physically fit for war service. He was awarded a Silver War Badge.
Sold with the recipient’s discharge certificate and an original hand written letter sent to the recipient on 27 May 1916 from 4285 Sgt. Horrocks, B Company, 8th Loyal North Lancs., which opens as follows:
‘Dear Jack I was very glad last night to hear that a letter had been received from you as I have wondered many times whether you had arrived safely at the dressing station or not. I ought really to have sent someone with you but as you know we had not many men left when you got wounded and I could not spare a chap to help you along. I want to thank you personally Jack for the brave manner in which you behaved and for the splendid example you set the men under heavy shell fire and each and all of us agree that you were about the coolest and most collected man of the party. After you got hit we kept plodding on till the following morning when we were relieved and sent back to pylines for a sleep though the party had altered very much in numbers for we started with 42 and left with about 16 most of whom have since left us and gone to hospital with shell shock.’
150
Three: Private G. Cripps, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who died of wounds received at the Battle of the Aisne on 17 September 1914
1914 Star, with later slide clasp (6869 Pte. G. Cripps. 1/North’n R.); British War and Victory Medals (6869 Pte. G. Cripps. North’n R.); Memorial Plaque (George Cripps) nearly extremely fine (4)
£240-£280
George Cripps was born in 1886 at Evenley, Northamptonshire and attested for the Northamptonshire Regiment at Brackley, Northamptonshire in 1903. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1914 and was reported wounded and missing on 17 September 1914 during the battle of the Aisne. He was later officially recorded as having died of wounds on 17 September 1914.
He was the husband of Emily Jane Cripps of 92 Banbury Road, Oxford and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the La Ferte- sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
151
Family Group:
Three: Private C. Coyne, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war on 24 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (3-9783 Pte. C. Coyne. 1/North’n R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-9783 Pte. C. Coyne. North’n. R.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Coyne); Memorial Scroll (Private Charles Coyne, Northamptonshire Regt.) in OHMS transmission tube, addressed to ‘Mrs Coyne, 287 Walpole St., Peterborough.’ nearly extremely fine
Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (John Coyne, 9th October 1883. (Duplicate.)) with integral top riband buckle, good very fine (6)
£300-£400
Charles Coyne was born in 1895 in March, Cambridgeshire. Originally enlisted into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, he was called to the colours on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 September 1914. He died of wounds on 24 November 1914, aged 19 years, whilst being held as a prisoner of war. His heavily depleted Battalion had witnessed fierce fighting during First Ypres at Pilckem Ridge, Bodmin Copse and Shrewsbury Forest, and came out of the line on 15th November with 350 ranks and five officers commanded by a Special Reserve Subaltern.
He was the son of John and Louisa Coyne of 287 Walpole Street, New England, Peterborough and is buried in Tourcoing (Pont- Neuville) Communal Cemetery, France. Sold together with Army Form B. 104-82, informing the recipient’s father of the death of his son, dated 24 April 1915.
John Coyne, father of the above, was born in March, Cambridgeshire in 1865. He was employed as an 18 year old Parcel Postman at the time of the award of his Royal Humane Society Medal: ‘R.H.S. Case No. 22176: ‘John Coyne, at great personal risk, rescued Mrs Vanson from drowning in the river March, Cambridge, on 9 October 1883. Bronze medal.’
The rescue of Mrs Vanson, aged 73, took place at noon when an omnibus in which the old lady was travelling had backed into the river due to restlessness of the horses. A duplicate medal was issued to Coyne on repayment as his original medal was lost.
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