Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914 Star, with copy clasp (8710 Pte. W. Down. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.); 1914 Star (6547 Pte. H. Thomas. 2/Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.) nearly very fine (2) £80-£100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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William Down was born at Saltwood, Kent, and attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Shorncliffe, Kent. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 September 1914, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 30 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Harry Thomas attested for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 21 September 1914. He was discharged in July 1915, no longer physically fit. He had previously served in the Boer War and had received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 3 clasps.