Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private E. Earnshaw, York and Lancaster Regiment

1914-15 Star (18616 Pte., York & Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (18616 Pte., Y. & L.R.), good very fine and better (3) £140-160

Edric Earnshaw, who was born at High Flats, Denaby in Yorkshire, was killed in action at Gallipoli on 21 August 1915, while serving in the 6th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment. On that date his unit launched an attack from trenches to the east of “Chocolate Hill”, but quickly encountered ‘heavy shrapnel at almost point-blank range’, the effect of which was compounded by heavy enemy machine-gun fire. Having set out with a strength of 12 officers and 634 other ranks, the Battalion could only muster five officers and 287 other ranks by the following morning. Earnshaw has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.