Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Victory Medal 1914-19 (16-1145 Pte. D. Metcalfe. North’d Fus.) good very fine £160-£200

David Metcalfe was born in Tindelfell, Cumberland, and attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He served with the 16th (Newcastle) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 November 1915, and was killed in action on 1 June 1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack at Thiepval: according to the Official History of the Great War a football was followed into battle at zero hour. Within moments the leading waves were hit by machine gun fire, with the survivors forced to lay down and await any chance of returning to their lines. One report noted that the Battalion had advanced in perfect formation, the dead being later found in straight lines as if ‘dressed’ for parade. Relieved the following day, the Battalion suffered a total of 378 casualties.

Metcalfe was among those killed, and he is buried in Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuile, France.