Auction Catalogue

27 June 2002

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1169

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27 June 2002

Hammer Price:
£2,100

Family group:

Pair:
Second Lieutenant T. W. R. Neill, Royal Scots Fusiliers, attached Royal Dublin Fusiliers, mortally wounded on the first Day of the Battle of The Somme, 1 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Thomas William Robertson Neill); illuminated memorial scroll; card boxes of issue and transmission slip for medals; original letter from the War Office regarding his place of burial, this dated, 2 October 1916; and a magnificent oil painting of recipient in khaki uniform, 66 c.m. by 50 c.m., contained in it’s contemporary elaborate gilt-wood frame, 87 c.m. by 72 c.m.

Pair:
Second Lieutenant R. K. Neill, Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action at Ypres, 16 August 1917

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Robert Kirkpatrick Neill); illuminated memorial scroll; transmission slip and card boxes of issue for medals; two letters from the Imperial War Graves Commission; and a magnificent oil painting of recipient in khaki uniform, 66 c.m. by 50 c.m., contained in it’s contemporary elaborate gilt-wood frame, identical to that above, the pictures displayed behind glass and therefore in excellent condition, medals extremely fine (6) £1400-1600

See Colour Plate IV

Thomas William Robertson Neill originally served with the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, being attached to the1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, sometime in March 1916. He was mortally wounded during the first day of the Somme offensive, on 1 July 1916, and died of wounds two days later. He was 21 years of age, and is buried at Louvencourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Sold with copies from regimental history confirming dates. A total of 6 officers of the regiment were killed on the 1st of July 1916, not including Neill, who was the only officer mortally wounded.

Robert Kirkpatrick Neill was killed in action on 16 August 1917, whilst serving with the 8th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was 20 years of age, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.