Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Private H. J. Tillbrook, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), who was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle on 29 October 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (10789 Pte. H. Tillbrook. 4/R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-10879 Pte. H. J. Tillbrook. R. Fus.) good very fine

Three: Acting Sergeant F. Tillbrook, 19th Hussars, later 9th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry), who was killed in action on the Western Front on 25 March 1918
1914 Star (1662 Pte. F. Tillbrook. 19/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (1662 A. Sjt. F. Tillbrook. 19-Hrs.) good very fine

Three: Private G. Tillbrook, 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, who was killed in action near St. Quentin on 22 March 1918, the second day of the German Spring Offensive
1914-15 Star (4809 Pte. G. Tillbrook. E. Surr: R.); British War and Victory Medals (4809 Pte. G. Tillbrook. E. Surr. R.) good very fine

Three: Sergeant W. Tillbrook, 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
1914-15 Star (4831 Pte. W. Tillbrook. E. Surr: R.); British War and Victory Medals (4831 Sjt. W. Tillbrook. E. Surr. R.) good very fine (12) £500-£700

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

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Herbert James Tillbrook was born in 1882 at Wereham, Norfolk and attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Downham, Norfolk in 1903 or 1904. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he landed with the 4th Battalion at Le Havre on 13 August for service on the Western Front. His battalion, as part of the 9th Brigade in the 3rd Division with Smith Dorien’s II Corps, was among the first to arrive in France, and proceeded directly to Mons where, together with the 4th Middlesex, they faced the first German attacks and could count among their number Lieutenant M. Dease and Private S. F. Godley who were awarded the first V.C.s of the Great War for their defence of Y Company HQ at the Nimy railway bridge on 23 August 1914.
In late October 1914, the 4th Royal Fusiliers were involved severe fighting near Neuve Chapelle which resulted in the battalion strength being reduced to just 8 officers and 350 other ranks and subsequent to which, on 29 October, Private Tillbrook was reported missing and presumed dead. He was the son of James and Kezia Tillbrook of Wereham, Norfolk and, having no known grave, is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.

Frank Tillbrook, brother of the above, was born in 1887 at Wereham, Norfolk and attested for the 19th Hussars at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in November 1907. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 September 1914 and having transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 27 June 1916, was killed in action on the Western Front whilst serving as an Acting Sergeant with the 9th Squadron on 25 March 1918. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

Gilbert Tillbrook, brother of the above, was born in 1889 at Wereham, Norfolk and served with the 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 July 1915. He was killed in action at Frieres-Faillouël, south of St. Quentin, on 22 March 1918, the second day of Operation Michael - the German Spring Offensive. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

William Tillbrook, brother of the above, was born in 1889 at Wereham, Norfolk and served with the 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 July 1915, advancing to the rank of Sergeant. ALone amongst his brothers he survived the War, and was discharged Class Z on 6 February 1919.