Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. McMinn, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the Somme in July 1916

1914-15 Star (3957 Pte. J. McMinn, Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (3957 Pte. J. McMinn. Lan. Fus.); Memorial Plaque (John McMinn) in card envelope, cleaned, good very fine (4) £240-£280

John McMinn was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1897 and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers in Manchester. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 17 May 1915, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme- initially posted missing in action, his death was formally recorded as occurring on 20 July 1916. It is possible, therefore, that his death actually occurred on the first day of the Battle, 1 July 1916, when the Battalion advanced and later crossed the German line south of The Quadrilateral- the enemy soon counter attacked and a withdrawal was made during the night, with the Battalion suffering total casualties of 368. Between the action on 1 July and the recipient’s recorded death on 20 July the Battalion was not involved in any major actions, nor did they have a day on which they sustained significant casualties. McMinn has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Sold with copied research.