Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant A. Langlands, South Wales Borderers, killed in action at Rue du Bois, near Bethune, 9 May 1915

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.) nearly extremely fine (3) £350-400

Alan Langlands was born at Long Rood, Bilton, Warwickshire on 25 September 1895 and educated at Millmead, Stubbington and Wellington College. He received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion South Wales Borderers in October 1914. Transferred to the 1st Battalion, he went to France in March 1915, and was killed in action on 9 May 1915, aged 19 years, while leading his platoon in action near Bethune. He was buried in St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l’Avoue. His Company Commander wrote of the attack:

‘After the first assault had disastrously failed, we were sent up as one of the regiments to try again. At three minutes to four the assaulting platoons, under cover of the bombardment, were to leave our trench and cross the wide ditch in front, lie down, get together, and, when the guns lifted, assault. They carried out their instructions to the letter. Immediately the guns lifted a most murderous machine-gun fire was turned on them. As soon as I saw this, and the assaulting platoon being slaughtered, we did all we could, and prevented the rest of the men from leaving their trench.’ The Battalion lost 10 officers and 224 men killed and wounded in the disastrous attack, amongst which was 2nd Lieutenant Langlands. Sold with a quantity of copied research.