Auction Catalogue

17 & 18 July 2019

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 1313

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18 July 2019

Hammer Price:
£80

The Victory Medal awarded to Private A. Gorton, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

Victory Medal 1914-19 (10854 Pte. A. Gorton. Lan. Fus.) very fine £70-£90

Alfred Gorton was born in Manchester, and attested there for the Lancashire Fusiliers. He served with the 15th (1st Salford Pals) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. On this date the battalion was involved in 32nd Division’s assault at Thiepval, and were hit by heavy machine gun fire as soon as they left their trenches at 7:30 a.m. Out of an attacking force of 624, the Battalion suffered 470 casualties. Gorton was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.