Pair: Lieutenant C. P. Seath, Royal Irish Rifles, taken prisoner of war on the first day of the great German Spring Offensive, 21 March 1918, when ‘the Battalion itself was gone, killed, wounded and prisoners’

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. C. P. Seath.) mounted in a glazed display frame, extremely fine (2) £100-140

Clifford Percival Seath was born in Faversham, Kent, in 1898 attested for the East Kent Regiment, and served with them during the Great War in France; Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Irish Rifles, 29 August 1917, and served with the 15th Battalion, as part of the 36 (Ulster) Division during the great German Spring Offensive of 1918, when on the opening day he was taken prisoner of war, 21 March 1918, in action near Gruiges, when ‘the Battalion itself was gone, killed wounded and prisoners’ (Battalion War Diary refers). For his gallantry in action that day, Second Lieutenant Edmund de Wind, also of the 15th Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross, ‘For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the 21 March, 1918, at the Race Course Redoubt, near Gruiges. For seven hours he held this most important post, and though twice wounded and practically single-handed, he maintained his position until another section could be got to his help. On two occasions, with two N.C.O.'s only, he got out on top under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and cleared the enemy out of the trench, killing many. He continued to repel attack after attack until he was mortally wounded and collapsed. His valour, self-sacrifice and example were of the highest order.’ (London Gazette, 13 May 1919 refers). Seath was repatriated on 11 December 1918, promoted Lieutenant in October 1922, and died in Kent in 1972.

Together with a framed portrait of the recipient and two Commission documents.

Watercolour portrait is signed ‘G. Hinke 1919’. George Hinke was born in Berlin in 1883 and later moved to the USA where he worked as a book illustrator