Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Private A. J. C. Abbott, 14th Battalion London Regiment, wounded and captured by the Germans, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (5043 Pte., 14-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (5043 Pte., 14-Lond. R.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Alfred James Charles Abbott), this in Royal Mint case of issue; Silver War Badge (B.39945) generally extremely fine (10) £600-700

Alfred J. C. Abbott enlisted on 17 July 1915. Serving with the 14th Battalion London Regiment, he was wounded and then captured by the Germans on 1 July 1916 - the first day of the battle of the Somme.

A typed account of his actions on 1 July 1916 reads:

‘It was just after 7 am on the morning of July 1st we were waiting for “Zero Hour” 7.30 am. .... Then the whistle blew and it was over the top ... My pal Johnny was on my left side as we clambered up the short ladder and into ‘No Man’s Land’. We wished each other the best of luck but no sooner we were on top of the trench and began to move forward to our objective when a huge shell (known to the troops as the Coalscuttle) landed at our feet with a terrific explosion and I saw my pal Johnny blown to pieces and yet I received not a scratch, just a few tears around my kilt. .... We pressed forward and then I saw Lieut. Brown fall to the ground. He had been shot through the head. It was at this point that I took over command of a section of the Platoon being of the rank of Lance-Corporal. .... I somehow became separated and found myself near the German front line and was faced with coils of barbed wire. I lobbed into the German trench the remainder of my Mills Bombs. Our artillery fire was dropping short of the German lines and I was in the midst of this fire and a shell dropped with a terrific explosion and I was thrown to the ground onto the barbed wire. I was able to extricate myself from the wire and then another shell dropped and a piece of shrapnel hit me in the right knee and caused a big gash in my leg. I was unable to get to my feet and then another piece of shrapnel hit me in the head. At this juncture the Germans made a counter attack and I had the presence of mind to feign death. ... While the attack was on I received a nasty piece of shrapnel in the left shoulder and a bullet through my right foot. .... I felt myself being pulled along the ground by my right arm and then turned around and placed on what turned out to be the German front line firestep. I now regained my senses and looking up I saw the face of a German officer and in fluent english he said, “You are very badly wounded.” Whereupon he drew out a revolver and placed it to my head saying “Shall I shoot you?” I shook my head and faintly murmered “No”. He immediately put away the revolver and called two soldiers of the German Medical Corps. .......

Sold with five sports and shooting medals in gold, silver and bronze, c.1909-10; 45 black and white photographs, including P.O.W. Camp and prisoners, army and civilian life, and a group photo with Abbot on the R.M.S. Olympic, 1912; card from P.O.W. Camp; Medical History Sheet, stamped British Prisoners of War, 1916 which covers his several wounds including head, right knee and foot; also various documents relating to his later service with the Post Office.