Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private T. Darwin, York & Lancaster Regiment, killed in action at Authuille Wood, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (14402 Pte. T. Darwin. York: & Lanc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (14402 Pte. T. Darwin. Y. & L. R.) very fine or better (3) £240-280

Tom Darwin was born in Catcliffe, Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1890, and attested for the York & Lancaster Regiment at Frensham Camp, Rotherham on 1 September 1914. He served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1915. He was reported missing, assumed killed in action, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, aged 26. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He is also commemorated on the Catcliffe War Memorial.

8th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment War Diary for 1 July 1916, at Authuille Wood, refers:
“The Battalion advanced in four waves as intended but most of the men were shot down in No Mans Land… the remainder reached the enemy’s wires. This was in places still uncut and many Officers and men were shot down whilst cutting it. So far as can be gathered the first men who reached the enemy trenches got as far as the third line but they were not seen again. Our men in the first and second line were immediately engaged by the enemy who came out of dug-outs and what were supposed to be communication tunnels… Bombing then continued between parties of the enemy and our men in both second and first line and many of the enemy including several Officers were shot who attempted to come over the top of the trenches… Eventually all the men in the second line became casualties. Further heavy fighting continued until only odd parties of two and three men were left. It is reported that an enemy machine gun was found in the front line with two Germans chained to it. Both were dead, one having been bayoneted and the other apparently killed with the butt of a rifle. All the bombers except one man are casualties. Only two Lewis Gunners returned bringing back one gun. Out of a total of 680 N.C.O.s and men and 22 Officers who went over the parapet, the following numbers returned unwounded: 1 Sergeant, 3 Corporals, 10 Lance Corporals and 54 men. No Officers.”