Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Second Lieutenant G. L. D. Hole, 10th (Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.) very fine (2) £50-70

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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The following in relation to a defensive action at Epehy on 30 November 1917, in which Second Lieutenant Hole was called into action, is extracted from, The Liverpool Scottish 1900-1919, by A. M. McGilchrist:

‘There was one other detachment of the Scottish which took part in this action. As soon as it was known that the enemy had broken the front line, orders were sent to the transport officer, Captain R. W. Johnson, that all available men at the transport lines at Villers-Faucon should report as soon as possible to Brigade Headquarters and a party of about 70, under Lieutenant G. L. D. Hole, was hurriedly marshalled. This party, which was made up of “Z” Company’s demonstration platoon, tailors, butchers, sick and men returned from leave or courses, reached Brigade Headquarters at the Willows at about 10 a.m. after a gruelling march, during which it encountered, particularly in Epehy, more shelling by 5.9 inch howitzers than was pleasant. On reporting to the Brigadier the party was split up into three groups which, after carrying out special tasks - wiring, carrying ammunition, etc, took up positions about Fourteen Willows Road and to the north-west towards Vaucelette Farm and filled in the gaps in what was to become the new line of resistance.’

Gilbert Lindsay Douglas Hole was born on 26 August 1882, educated at Edinburgh Academy University, and lived at Saxe Coburg Place, Edinburgh. He was the son of William Fergusson Brassey Hole (a historical painter and a Royal Scottish Academician) and Elizabeth Douglas Hole, and married Grace Chalmers Hole (nee Blackie) in 1906 in Liverpool.

He attested in Edinburgh on 18 November 1915 and posted to the Army Reserve until mobilised 24 May 1916 as Private No 7241/358129 in 2/10th Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, giving his address as 36 Murrayfield Ave, Edinburgh and his occupation as 'writer to the Signet'. In civil life he was a solicitor. He served at home 24 May 1916 to 24 January 1917 and was commissioned on 24 January 1917 and served with 1/10th Liverpools.

Suffering with acute ceratis of the right eye he left his unit on 21 March 1918 and after treatment at No 2083 General Hospital embarked Boulogne on 3 April 1918 for the U.K. AT the time he was living at 8 Waterford Rd, Oxton Birkenhead. There is a note in his P.R.O. correspondence file from the Ministry of Social Security. It states that he died of broncho-pneumonia and arterio-scleratic dementia on 10 November 1967. He was on a disability pension due to ceratis of the right eye and was judged to be 50% disabled at the time of his death.