Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Private F. Magson, Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action, battle of Somme, 8 July 1916

1914-15 Star (19745 Pte., York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (19745 Pte., York. R.); Memorial Plaque (Frederick Magson)

Pair: Private H. Magson, Lincolnshire Regiment, who died of pneumonia as a prisoner-of-war, 14 July 1918

British War and Victory Medals (241821 Pte., Linc. R.); Memorial Plaque (Herbert Magson)

Volunteer Force Long Service, E.VII.R. (3255 Cpl. F. Magson, 2/V.B. York. Regt.) impressed naming, good very fine and better (8) £300-400

Frederick and Herbert Magson were the sons of Frank and Fanny Magson, of 13 Lancaster Street, Scarborough.

Private Frederick Magson, Yorkshire Regiment, entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 7 October 1915. Serving in the 2nd Battalion he was killed in action during the battle of the Somme on 8 July 1916. A comrade wrote: ‘On Saturday July 8th at Montauban, about 10 in the morning a shell burst in the wood among 8 of us, Magson was killed instantaneously. I was wounded by the same shell, and was left lying for three days without any food, when some lads from another regiment took me away at night. I lay by Magson all that time. ...’ Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

With identity disk; certificate of birth; with a quantity of original letters to his mother; in one, dated ‘Somewhere in France, 20 February’ he tells of a narrow escape when a bullet passed through various parts of his uniform and equipment including his Pocket New Testament - this with lot showing the damage the bullet caused. His last, a scribbled note dated 23 June reads, ‘Going into action Sunday, June 23 / 16. Fred’. Also with a copied portrait photograph; and copied extract from the Scarborough Mercury with a report of his death.

Private Herbert Magson, 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, was taken prisoner-of-war in April (?) 1918 and died of pneumonia at a hospital at Charleville on 14 July 1918, aged 21 years. He was eventually buried in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille.

With baptism certificate; portrait photograph; letter (2) to his mother, 26 May 1917 and 2 March 1918 - just prior to going overseas to France; prisoner of war notification card (2) dated 20 April 1918 and 18 June 1918; slips re him being reported as a P.O.W.; Red Cross letter (2), 7 November 1918 and 18 November 1918 notifying his mother of his death; War Office letter, 29 January 19119; Infantry Record Office letter, 25 February 1919; Commonwealth War Graves Commission letter, 5 January 1965 re the removal of his grave from Charleville to Wimille.

Their father, Frank Magson, 2nd Volunteer Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, was a Bandsman with the regiment.

With five original and one copied photograph featuring Frank Magson.