Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Stars (4) (PS-5566 Pte J. D. Rogers. R. Fus; 2541 Pte. F. W. Matthews. E. Surr. R.; G-5552 Pte. C. E. W. Hartt. R. Suss. R.; R-12663 Pte. C. G. Durrant. K.R. Rif. C.); together with a Silver War Badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘28927’, generally very fine £80-£100

James Dudley Rogers attested for the Royal Fusiliers and served with the 20th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He died of wounds on 23 July 1916 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.

Frederick William Matthews attested for the East Surrey Regiment and served with the 9th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 August 1915. He was killed in action less than a month later on 26 September 1915 during the Battle of Loos; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Charles Edgar Whitby Hartt, a native of Norwich, attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment underage, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He was just 17 when he was killed in action on 26 February 1916; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

Charles George Durrant, a native of Kingston upon Thames, attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and served with the 20th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 25 July 1916, and is buried at Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, France.

Silver War Badge Number 28927 was awarded to 3635 Private Leslie Henry Valentine, 14th Battalion, London Regiment, on 24 August 1916, the recipient being ‘no longer physically fit for Service’ through sickness. He never served overseas.