The Memorial Plaque bestowed upon Private H. H. Fowler, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

Memorial Plaque (Herbert Harold Fowler) in card envelope, extremely fine £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family.

Herbert Harold Fowler was born in Peckham, Surrey, in 1896 and attested for the Rifle Brigade in London on 2 February 1916. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 May 1916, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion, as part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, was ordered to attack Redan Ridge. Held up by fire from Ridge Redoubt and The Quadrilateral soon after leaving the trenches, they entered the German line by 10:00 a.m., and were involved in heavy close quarter fighting along the trenches. Driven back after a counter attack they retired to Mailly-Maillet, having suffered total casualties of 474.

Fowler was amongst those killed, and is buried in Redan Ridge Cemetery, France.

Sold with copied research.