Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private A. W. Giles, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert’s (Somersetshire Light Infantry), who was killed in action at St. Yves, near Armentières, on 10 November 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (8731 Pte. A. W. Giles. 1/Som: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (8731 Pte. A. W. Giles. Som. L.I.) nearly extremely fine (3) £160-£200

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

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Arthur William Giles was born in 1894 at Long Ditton, Surrey and, having attested for the Somerset Light Infantry at Stratford, Essex around 1909, is shown in the 1911 census as serving aged 16 years with the 1st Battalion, stationed at Verne Citadel Barracks, Portland.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Giles landed at Havre, France with the 1st Battalion on 22 August 1914, his battalion being heavily engaged four days later near Ligny during the Battle of Le Cateau as part of the 11th Brigade in Snow’s 4th Division. They again saw action at the Marne and the Aisne, crossing the latter on 13 September and taking part in the attack on Bucy-de-Long. Committed once more the following month during the Battle of Armentières, the 1st Somersets notably took part in an attack on La Gheer from Ploegsteert Wood on 21 October in which they advanced via the eastern edge of the wood and cleared the enemy, who were Saxons, from the village at the point of the bayonet.

Private Giles was killed in action on 10 November 1914, a date on which his battalion was occupying trenches north-west of St. Yves, between Armentières and Ypres. He is buried at Strand Military Cemetery, Belgium.