British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private P. Leslie, Devonshire Regiment

1914 Star (8814 Pte. P. Leslie, 2/Devon R.); British War and Victory Medals (8814 Pte. P. Leslie, Devon R.), generally very fine (3) £120-150

Philip Leslie first entered the French theatre of war with the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in early November 1914,his unit having been recalled from Egypt on the outbreak of hostilities. And between then and the end of the year it fought alongside the 2nd Scottish Rifles, sustaining casualties of around 120 men in an attack on the Moated Grange feature on the La Bassee road in mid-December. The Battalion was afterwards among those to witness the famous “Christmas Truce”, its men exchanging cigarettes and good wishes in No Man’s Land on the 25th. Leslie later served in the Labour Corps and Royal Fusiliers (His MIC entry refers).