Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private T. E. Clucas, Gordon Highlanders, who was killed in action near La Clytte on 22 April 1915

1914-15 Star (S-7495 Pte., Gord. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (S-7495 Pte., Gordons), with related Memorial Plaque (Thomas Edgar Clucas), nearly extremely fine (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons.

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Thomas Edgar Clucas, who was born at Fenton, Staffordshire and enlisted at Longton, was killed in action near La Clytte on 22 April 1915, while serving in the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. The relevant war diary entry states:

‘Left half of Battalion relieved right half in trenches. Relief complete without casualty by 9.40 p.m. Germans on our immediate right reported to be using asphyxiating gas. Some men of right half Battalion complained of sore eyes by day probably due to this gas. Pieces of cloth and tins for water were sent up to trenches as a remedy was reported to be a wet cloth held over face (1 man killed - quiet day).’

Clucas had earlier distinguished himself and was posthumously mentioned in despatches by Sir John French (London Gazette 22 June 1915).

He was interred La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium; sold with photographs of his headstone.

Also sold with original memorial scroll; War Office letter, dated 13 December 1915, announcing the recipient’s M.I.D. and offering the King’s condolences on Clucas’ subsequent death in action; and County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent forwarding letter for a ‘Roll of Honour Card’, this dated August, 1918.