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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 686

(x) Three: Rifleman W. G. Dimpsey, King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was captured on 2 November 1914 and, having survived four years as a Prisoner of War, died of influenza on his return journey to his wife in Aldershot

1914 Star, with copy clasp (7673 Pte. W. Dimpsey, 1/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (7673 Pte. W. Dimpsey, K.R. Rif. C.), nearly extremely fine (3)

William George Dimpsey was the son of George and Eliza Dimpsey and husband of Emily F. Dimpsey of Pavilion Road, Aldershot. He served in France from 22 August 1914 with the 1st Battalion, K.R.R.C., proceeding via Rouen as part of the first line of reinforcements. It is likely that he took part in the Battle of the Marne and Battle of the Aisne and was captured near Ypres as the Germans attempted to take control of the Belgian town in November 1914.

It is unclear which P.O.W. camp(s) William was held at but his name is recorded on the H.R.H. Princess Mary's Fund Prisoner of War list. Following the end of hostilities, he commenced the journey home across the North Sea, but he died en route along with a further 18 soldiers and five sailors; they are collectively buried in a single plot at Copenhagen Western Cemetery, the grave marked by a stone memorial 'Erected by Danish friends of the British Empire.'


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Sold for
£160