Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Three: Private J. H. Cann, The Queen’s Regiment, who was killed in action serving in the 1st Battalion in September 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (L-8483 Pte., 1/The Queen’s R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-8483 Pte., 1/The Queen’s R.), nearly extremely fine (3) £180-220

John Henry Cann was killed in action on 18 September 1914, while serving in the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. On that date, the Battalion was attacked in its positions on the Chemin des Dames, the C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel D. Warren being among the casualties, having been hit by a sniper. Another hazard was the close proximity of our own artillery, just 30 yards to the rear, the Battalion’s war diary noting, ‘They nearly blew our heads off each time they fired.’