Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private A. Beachill, York and Lancaster Regiment, killed in action at the Battle of the Somme, 3 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (21330 Pte. A. Beachill. Y. & L.R.); Memorial Plaque (Albert Beachill) traces of brooch mounting and suspension claw re-pinned on BWM, otherwise very fine (3) £100-140

Albert Beachill was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, and attested there for the York and Lancaster Regiment. He served with the 10th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front prior to the end of 1915 (also entitled to a 1914-15 Star), and was killed in action at the battle of the Somme on 3 July 1916: his Battalion were involved in the attack on Fricourt on the first day of the battle, and suffered heavily in crossing No Man’s Land. The survivors reached high ground and advanced through the German front trench, all the while subjected to heavy machine gun fire from Fricourt Wood, and later held the trench against an enemy counter attack. By the time the battalion was relieved on 4 July they had suffered 306 casualties including Beachill. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.