Special Collections

Sold on 19 June 2013

1 part

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An Old Collection of Medals Relating to The Great War

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Lot

№ 1197

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20 June 2013

Hammer Price:
£1,900

Three: Captain The Honourable Gerald Legge, 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, second son of the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth, who was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9 August 1915

1914-15 Star (Capt. Hon., S. Staff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. Hon.) good very fine (3) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Old Collection of Medals Relating to The Great War.

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Collection

Captain The Honourable Gerald Legge, second son of the Right Honourable The Earl of Dartmouth, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Stafford was born in London in April 1882 and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.

Prior to the outbreak of the Great War he travelled widely and was a hunter of big game, of which his collection was exceptionally fine. He joined the Ruwenzori Expedition of 1905-1906 under the leadership of the late Captain Woosnam and again in 1909 for the expedition to Lake Ngami in South Africa. This was only reached after an adventurous journey across the Kala-hari Desert and proved highly successful, resulting in the acquisition of many specimens greatly desired by the British Museum.

On the outbreak of the Great War he joined the 7th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment and on 1 July 1915 and sailed with his regiment for the Dardanelles. After ten days in the trenches there he took part in the costly landing at Suvla Bay, where, while gallantly leading his men, he fell in action on the morning of 9 August. 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.