A Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers

Pair: Private P. E. Fernley, 11th (2nd Gwent) Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 23 August 1917

British War and Victory Medals (36010 Pte. P. E. Fernley. S. Wales Bord.); Memorial Scroll ‘Pte. Percival Edward Fernley, S. Wales Borderers’, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, extremely fine (2) £80-£120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers.

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Percival Edward Fernley was born in Stepney, London, and attested there for the South Wales Borderers. He served with the 11th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 23 August 1917. In a letter to Fernley’s parents, his friend Private E. Morgan gives the following details of their son’s death:
‘Dear Mr & Mrs Fernley, It is with deep regret that I write these few lines to you informing you about your son Private Fernley on the 27.8.17 [sic]. We were engaged as linesmen from Brigade Headquarters to battalion Headquarters about 2.30 p.m. Our lines were broken from heavy shell fire we were ordered to go and repair them, we had not gone far when I got hit with shrapnel. Percy helped me upon my feet and I had only gone a few yards when Percy himself was hit seriously. Help came at once but they told me it was all over as he was dying. I did not see any more of him as I was taken away to the hospital, as my wounds were bleeding terrible. As soon as I got to the hospital I sent a note back to the Regiment to let them know what had happened. Percy and me have been close chums since he joined us.’

Fernley has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Sold with Record Office enclosure; a (damaged) typed letter to Fernley’s parents from Private E. Morgan, giving details of their son’s death; letter from the Imperial War Graves Commission; a postcard group photograph handwritten on reverse ‘Will be coming home tomorrow. (Saturday afternoon) From Percy’; a postcard of Tyne Cot Memorial; an embroidered birthday card from Percy to his sister, handwritten on reverse ‘From your loving brother Percy, March 5th 1917’; modern photographs of his name on the Tyne Cot Memorial, and copied Medal Index Card and casualty details.