Auction Catalogue

20 September 2002

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

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

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Lot

№ 248

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20 September 2002

Hammer Price:
£550

Three: Lieutenant F. Charleston, Lancashire Fusiliers

1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut., Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Frederick Charleston) extremely fine (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Lancashire Fusiliers.

View A Collection of Medals to the Lancashire Fusiliers

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Collection

Lieutenant Frederick Charleston died of wounds in France and Flanders on 7 July 1915 whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.

The following is extracted from
The University College London Memorial Book, which book includes a photograph of the recipient: ‘... When war broke out he returned to England (September 1914), and was attached for active service to the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, his old regiment, which he joined at the front in October. Throughout the following winter he saw continual and heavy fighting. On May 2nd, 1915, he was promoted Lieutenant. At the second Battle of Ypres he was slightly gassed, and sent to hospital. After a fortnights leave at home, he returned to the front in the last week in May.

He died on July 7th, 1915, at No. 12 Field Ambulance Dressing Station, of wounds received in action at Pilkem, near Ypres, and was buried at Farm Olivier, Elverdinghe. An officer with the Field Ambulance wrote:
“Several of the men of his Company were wounded at the same time and brought in to us. I got the same tale from them all - of his gallantry and courage in the trenches. He was in charge of a machine-gun section, and stood to it until it was put ut of action. The same shell that injured the men gave him his death wounds.”

There is a memorial to Charleston in the Church of The Holy Spirit, Clapham Common...’