Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private H. W. Foreman, 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, who died from wounds received on the Western Front on 27 October 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (8849 Pte. H. Foreman. 1/R. Sc: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (8849 Pte. H. Foreman. R.S. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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Harold William Foreman was born in Hatton Garden, London in 1888 and attested for the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1906. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he served with the 1st Battalion as part of the original British Expeditionary Force in France from 14 August 1914. Entrenched at Jemappes on the south bank of the Mons-Conde Canal on 23 August, his battalion held off enemy attacks until 3pm, suffering 52 casualties (wounded or killed) before withdrawing via Flenu to the northern edge of Frameries. The battalion war diary describes how the Germans then attacked once more, opening fire from the coal dumps south of Frameries. Having had no time to entrench, a further 2 officers were killed and 100 other ranks killed or wounded. The 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers saw further heavy fighting at the Marne where 600 prisoners were taken and also on the Aisne in September and La Bassée and 1st Ypres in October.

Private Foreman died of wounds at Base Hospital, Armstrong College at Durham University (now Newcastle University) on 27 October 1914. The Coroner’s Certificate stated that his injuries were received at the seat of war (i.e. at the front line). He was the son of Eliza Haag (formerly Foreman) of 201 Cowick Road, Tooting, London and the late Samuel Foreman and is buried in St. Andrew’s and Jesmond Cemetery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.