Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Three: Private L. Somers, (M.M.), Irish Guards, late Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

1914-15 Star (8112 Pte., I. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (8112 Pte., Ir. Gds.) the second with edge bruise, generally very fine (3) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to the Irish Guards.

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Laurence Somers was born in Co. Leitrim and originally enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, seeing active service in the Boer War. Re-enlisting in the Irish Guards at Boyle, Co. Rosscommon in May 1915, aged 43 years, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion and went out to France in August of the same year. In the following month, on the 28th, he won the M.M. for his bravery in evacuating several wounded men, his recommendation, actually dated 8 June 1916, surviving in regimental records:

‘For conspicuous bravery in carrying in wounded men from in front of our trenches at Chalk Pit Wood on 28 September 1915. Private Somers went out three times from out trenches and brought men back to safety in broad daylight.’

Somers was seriously wounded in the back and buttocks on 14 September 1916. Evacuated to England, he died at the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury, St. Albans on 28 October, as a result of pelvic cellulitis septicaemia. He was interred in St. Albans Cemetery a week later. His widow, Mary, was sent his M.M. in February 1917.