Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Pair: Private J. H. Thomson, Scots Guards, who was killed in action during the attack on Lesboeufs on the Somme on 15 September 1916, in which action Sergeant F. McNess, also Scots Guards, was awarded the Victoria Cross
British War and Victory Medals (13526 Pte. J. H. Thomson. S. Gds.); Memorial Plaque (James Hughes Thomson) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; together with the recipient’s card identity disc, nearly extremely fine

Pair: Able Seaman R. Thomson, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
British War and Victory Medals (C.Z.7916 R. Thomson. A.B. R.N.V.R.) nearly extremely fine (5) £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family.

James Hughes Thomson was born in New Monkland, Lanarkshire, and attested for the Scots Guards at Hamilton, Lanarkshire on 17 February 1915. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 August 1916, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 15 September 1916, on which date the battalion was involved in the attack towards Lesboeufs. For his gallantry during this attack Lance-Sergeant Fred McNess, Scots Guards, was awarded the Victoria Cross, his citation stating:
‘For most conspicuous bravery. During a severe engagement he led his men on with the greatest dash in face of heavy shell and machine gun fire. When the first line of enemy trenches was readied, it was found that the left flank was exposed and that the enemy was bombing down the trench. Sergeant McNess thereupon organised a counter-attack and led it in person. He was very severely wounded in the neck and jaw, but went on passing through the barrage of hostile bombs in order to bring up fresh supplies of bombs to his own men. Finally he established a “block”, and continued encouraging his men and throwing bombs till utterly exhausted by loss of blood.’

The Battalion suffered total casualties of 288 during the attack. Thomson has no known grave and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Robert Thomson, the brother of James Hughes Thomson, was born on 9 November 1896 and joined the Clyde Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 5 April 1916.

Sold with the named Record Office enclosure for the medals; Secretary of State for War’s enclosure; Imperial War Graves Commission letter; an ‘In Remembrance’ card; a small circular hand-coloured portrait of the recipient housed in a circular silver frame; and copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.