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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 253

Four: Private: R. S. Cast, 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action at 'W' Beach Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, a V.C. winning action where famously there were '6 before breakfast'

1914-15 Star (1190 Pte. R. S. Cast. Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (1190 Pte. R. S. Cast. Lan. Fus.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Robert Sydney Cast), very fine (4)

Robert Sydney Cast was born at Brentwood, Essex in 1888, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Cast of 28 Railway Square, Brentwood. Enlisting with the Lancashire Fusiliers in London he was part of the force which left Tenedos on the evening of 24 April for Gallipoli. The Battalion transferred to the ship's boats early on the morning of 25 April and moved to the landing points at 'W' Beach. They were met by heavy machine gun fire and a belt a barbed wire stretched right across the beach.

The naval ratings responsible for piloting the boats were soon shot down leaving the Battalion adrift and many were forced to try and push ashore while still in deep water. By 09:00 'C' Company had managed to take their objective of Hill 114. However heavy fighting continued for the rest of the day with high casualties on both sides. One of those killed was Cast who was killed in action and is commemorated upon the Hellas Memorial; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., Commonwealth War Graves details and census information as well as a Battalion War Diary covering the period and two articles relating to the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers on 'W' beach.

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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£160