Auction Catalogue

19 & 20 July 2017

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

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Lot

№ 392

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19 July 2017

Hammer Price:
£650

Pair: Private P. H. Hurst, 16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), killed in action on the first day of the Somme, 1 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (4278 Pte. P. H. Hurst 16-Lond. R.); Memorial Plaque (Percy Haslewood Hurst) mounted, framed and glazed, extremely fine (3) £300-400

Percy Haslewood Hurst was the son of Samuel King of ‘81 Cambridge Road, Seven Kings, Essex’, and the husband of Geraldine Hurst of ‘18 Teddington Park Road, Teddington, Middlesex.’ He served during the Great War with the 1/16th Battalion, London Regiment on the Western Front, and was killed in action 1 July 1916. On the latter date the 1/16th Battalion were serving on the Somme as part of the 169th Brigade, 56th (1st London) Division, and they ‘Moved up during night from St. Amand and assembled in trenches at Hébuterne (30/6). In support for attack at Gommecourt (1/7) - German front line trenches taken - small party led by officer of 1/5th Cheshire (Pioneers) reached objective at The Quadrilateral. Withdrew to British line. Battalion historian - Major J. Q. Henriques gives casualties as 600 out of an attacking strength of 750.’ (British Battalions on the Somme, R. Westlake refers).

Private Hurst is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme.