Special Collections

Sold on 5 April 2006

1 part

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A Collection of Medals to the Durham Light Infantry and associated units

Lot

№ 186

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5 April 2006

Hammer Price:
£750

Four: Captain W. G. Hoare, Durham Light Infantry, attached Wiltshire Regiment, killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10 March 1915.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Lieut., Durham L.I.); 1914-15 Star (Capt., Durh. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) extremely fine (4) £500-550

Wilfred Gurney Hoare was born in Jesmond on 29 May 1876, the son of Robert Gurney Hoare of Jesmond Dene, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and was educated at Repton School. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on 6 January 1897, he attained the rank of Captain on 12 July 1899. From the volunteers he was appointed Lieutenant in the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry on 7 December 1901 and promoted Captain on 25 June 1904. An Instructor of Musketry, 1905-09, and with the 3rd Battalion D.L.I. in 1908, he resigned his commission on 2 April 1901. With the start of the Great War he rejoined the 3rd Battalion D.L.I. as a Captain on 11 August 1914 and was attached to the 3rd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. Entering the France/Flanders theatre of war on 27 November 1914, he was killed in action on 10 March 1915. One account of his death was given by the M.O. of the 2nd Wiltshires, which states, ‘Captain Hoare was killed on the first day at La Neuve Chapelle on the 10th March. At the time he was digging himself in behind the parapet of the German trench they had just captured. Capt. Hoare was an extremely brave fellow.’ Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. Sold with copied research.