Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private S. J. Tomblin, 1st/13th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Kensington), later 2nd/13th (County of London) Battalion, who served during the Great War on the Western Front, in Salonika, and in German South West Africa

1914 Star (1184 Pte. S. J. Tomblin. 1/13 Lond: R.); British War and Victory Medals (1184 Pte. S. J. Tomblin. 13- Lond. R.) slight edge nick to second, very fine (3) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Recipients of the 1914 Star.

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Sydney James Tomblin was born at Marylebone, London in 1890 and served with the 1st/13th Battalion, London Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 4 November 1914 until 15 March 1916.

The Kensingtons fought at Neuve Chapelle with credit and later at Aubers Ridge where, as the first Territorial battalion to be employed as an assaulting unit in a major operation, they were the only battalion to penetrate the German lines and gain their objectives. With promised support failing to materialise, they were unable to hold on however and following a terrible withdrawal the battalion had lost 436 men, reducing the battalion strength to 30%. General Sir Henry Rawlinson commanding the IV Corps met the survivors and congratulated them on their excellent work:
‘By your splendid attack and dogged endurance you and your fallen comrades won imperishable glory for the 13th London battalion. It was a great feat of arms surpassed by no battalion in the Great War.’ (”The Kensingtons” 13th London Regiment by Bailey and Hollier).

Tomblin was posted to the 2nd/13th Battalion in Salonika from December 1916 until June 1917 and then embarked for service in German South West Africa, where he remained until shortly after the end of the war.