Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lance Corporal C. C. Rand, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who died from wounds received near Vailly during the Battle of the Aisne on 23 September 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (6380 Pte. C.C. Rand. 1/Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6380 Pte. C. C. Rand. Wilts. R.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Cecil Rand) edge bruise to VM and some staining, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280

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

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Charles Cecil Rand was born in 1881 at Brixton, London, the son of Charles Joshua and Mary Rand. He first attested for the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1903 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 August 1914.

The battalion was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, the 1st Wiltshire moved forward to high ground east of Chassemy on 14 September, crossing the Aisne later the same day and entrenched in a defensive line under heavy shell-fire north-east of Vailly. The enemy attacked in large numbers on 20 September:
‘The War Diary records that the Battalion’s right was seriously threatened - enemy getting to within 50 yards - “during this time a lot of close fighting took place.” Enemy eventually driven back. Captain H. C. Reynolds killed, Second Lieutenant H. W. Roseveare mortally wounded, 1 other officer wounded, approximately 80 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Relieved by 1st Norfolk and 1st K.S.L.I. (22nd) and via Vailly to billets at Braine.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers.)

Lance Corporal Rand was among those wounded in the fighting near Vailly and died of his wounds in the Aisne Valley on 23 September 1914. He was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Darcy (formerly Rand) of 2 Sperricombe Cottages, Tenby and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

Sold together with Buckingham Palace enclosure for Memorial Plaque and Record Office transmission slip for British War and Victory Medals - both previously mounted and in fragile condition.