Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant H. Hermann, 24th and 22nd (The Queen’s) Battalion, London Regiment

1914-15 Star (914 Sjt., 24-Lond. R.) surname spelt ‘Herman’ on this; British War and Victory Medals (914 Sjt., 24-Lond. R.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (720106 Sjt.-A.C.Q.M. Sjt., 22/Lond. R.); together with original documentation, comprising, a fascinating letter written by Sergeant Hermann from the trenches on 27 April 1915, this contemporarily neatly laid on thicker paper with an old ink inscription to top ‘A letter from the trenches from Sergt. H. Hermann of the Libraries Staff (of the 24th County of London “Southwark’s Own” now in the trenches)’, torn in two through centre but fully legible; ‘Section or Platoon Roll Book’, No.11 Platoon, “C” Company, 24th London Regiment, this listing the various men in this platoon, together with some personal detail including their civilian trade; another note book used by Hermann whilst on active service during the Great War, includes numerous notes, mostly relating to roll calls etc, but including various other jottings, such as a list of nine men simply entitled ‘Brave Men’, good very fine (4) £200-250

Henry Hermann was born in 1884 and worked as a library assistant for Southwark Council prior to his enlistment on 19 February 1909. He served during the Great War in France from 15 March 1915 and received a gunshot wound in his shoulder on 25 May 1915. He was discharged on 2 April 1919 and awarded a 13/- weekly pension on account of 40% disability. A group photograph of N.C.O’s. of the 3/24th Battalion, London Regiment, which includes Sergeant Hermann, appears in The Illustrated War News, 15 December 1915. Sold with copied service papers.

The following is extracted from the letter written by Sergeant Hermann, which is included with the lot: ‘... My Battalion has been out here since the middle of March - shortly after I called on you last - and we are now taking part in the fighting, though we haven’t seen a great deal yet. Last week I spent two days in the front line of trenches, an experience which was pretty harrowing, though not very trying when the enemy were behaving themselves. Their snipers are wonderful and I had one or two narrow escapes, but worse than the snipers are the bombs and shells they send flying around... After sitting tight under artillery fire for some time you can picture to yourself our glee when some of our own guns accept the challenge and we hear their shells whistling merrily over our heads on their way to retaliate on the Germans. Where I was the German trenches were about 250 yds. away and we were able to watch the effect of our fire. One shell blew a great hole in their parapet which will take some little repairing. We are now resting a little way back and I expect we shall go up again shortly..’