Orders, Decorations and Medals

1914-15 Star (6) (S-13482 Pte. P. E. Drake, Rif. Brig.; S-12780 Pte. T. Ettery, Rif. Brig.; S-1543 L. Sjt. C. R. J. Kirby, Rif. Brig.; Z-1774 Pte. D. P. Moran, Rif. Brig.; Z-1475 Pte. R. Sweeny, Rif. Brig.; B-2387 Pte. W. H. Wadham, Rif. Brig.), very fine or better (6) £100-120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Cheshire and Manchester Regiments, Rifle Brigade and Royal Green Jackets formed by the late David Boniface.

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Percy Edward Drake, who was born in Cheriton, near Folkestone, Kent, died of wounds back in the U.K. on 7 December 1917, after service in the 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. He is buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery.

Thomas Ettery has an entry in the National Roll of Honour: ‘Volunteering in July 1915, he was drafted to France the following month and saw much active service. He fought at Albert and Vimy Ridge, and was wounded and gassed in action in the battle of the Somme in July 1916. After his recovery he took part in the engagements at Arras, Ypres and Cambrai, and was engaged in heavy fighting during the retreat and advance of 1918. He returned home and was demobilised in March 1919. He lived at 3 Teer Street, Ancoats, Manchester.’

David Patrick Moran, who was born in Manchester, the son of Edward Moran of 112 Hamilton Street, Rochdale Road, Collyhurst, was killed in action at Ypres on 9 May 1915, while serving in the 4th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Richard Sweeny, who was born in Co. Mayo, Ireland, but resident at Didsbury, Manchester at the time of his enlistment, was killed in action in Belgium on 5 May 1915, while serving in the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

William Henry Wadham, who was born in Leicester, was killed in action in the German “liquid fire attack” at Hooge on 30 July 1915, while serving in the 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade - an action that resulted in battalion casualties of nearly 500 men killed, wounded or missing and the award of the V.C. to 2nd Lieutenant Sydney Woodroffe. Wadham has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.