Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private R. E. Etherington, 16th (Newcastle Pals’) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion suffered over 350 casualties

1914-15 Star (16-709 Pte. R. E. Etherington. North’d Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (16-709 Pte. R. E. Etherington North’d Fus.) good very fine (3) £240-£280

Robert Ernest Etherington attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers and served with the 16th (Newcastle) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 November 1915. He was killed in action on 1 June 1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack at Thiepval: according to the Official History of the Great War, a football was followed into battle at zero hour. Within moments the leading waves were hit by machine gun fire, with the survivors forced to lay down and await any chance of returning to their lines. One report noted that the Battalion had advanced in perfect formation, the dead being later found in straight lines as if ‘dressed’ for parade. Relieved the following day, the Battalion suffered a total of 378 casualties.

Etherington has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.