Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant E. B. Annesley, Chinese Labour Corps, formerly 10th (Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

1914 Star (2599 Sjt., 10/L’pool. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.) good very fine or better (3) £150-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin.

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Eric Breadalbane Annesley was born in Birkenhead on 25 June 1883 and educated at Merchant Taylors School. He joined the 8th (Scottish) Volunteer Battalion, Liverpool Regiment in 1901, transferring to the 10th (Scottish) Battalion in 1913. He was one of the original contingent that went to France on 1 November 1914 aboard the S.S. Maidan. He was wounded in the jaw (gun shot wound which caused a fracture) on 30 December 1915 and taken to 20 General Hospital Camiers and evacuated to 1 Northern Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne on 19 March 1916.

He applied for a commission in June 1917, and was admitted to the O.C. Battalion at Cambridge for training on 5 October 1917 and gazetted Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Labour Corps on10 January 1918. At some point he transferred to the Chinese Labour Corps and was severely wounded by a shell on 29 May 1918 (shrapnel wound to head, legs and hand) whilst serving at Hautrieux with 48 Chinese Labour Corps and admitted to the Anglo-American Hospital at Boulogne. He was evacuated to the U.K. on 16 June 18. A medical report dated 29 May 1918 states that he had a trepannic hole in the left parietal region of his skull where a piece of bone about the size of a shilling had been removed - this was to repair a displaced fracture of his skull.

In 1920 he complained of intolerance of noise and suffered from headaches which lasted for two days and occurred about every two months. He had no trouble sleeping but never woke up refreshed, he dreamt every night. Wounds on his legs including a fractured fibula had resulted in impaired movement in his left ankle and foot although this had improved by August 1919. He was granted leave until 1 January 1919, and In 1928 was living at Blair Athol, Riverbank Road. (P.R.O. correspondence file refers).