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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 246

A poignant campaign group of three awarded to Able Seaman H. E. Walpole, Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, one of the last men to die during the Great War, mortally wounded during the capture of Villers St Chislain on 10 November 1918, he died on the Armistice

British War and Victory Medals (R.6329 H. E. Walpole. A.B. R.N.V.R.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Harold Edgar Walpole), slight polishing, Plaque neatly drilled for mounting at twelve and six o'clock, otherwise very fine (3)

Harold Edgar Walpole was born at Geddington, Northamptonshire on 19 July 1899, the son of Henry and Mary Walpole of 26 Wood Street, Geddington. He worked in the Kettering Co-operative Clothing Factory prior to enlisting as well as being a Bell Ringer and Chorister at the local Church. Attesting with the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 September 1917, he was posted to 3rd Reserve Battalion before being transferred to Anson Battalion on 5 April 1918. Stationed in France, he was part of the attack launched on 10 October intended to push through the defences on the Mons-Givry Road and take Villers St. Chislain. Overall casualties for the operation were relatively light with Officers killed standing at four dead and one wounded and Other Ranks standing at six killed and sixty-three wounded. Unfortunately Walpole was severely wounded on 10 November, dying on 11 November - the same day as the Armistice. He was buried at Nouvelles Communal Cemetery; tragically his parents were not informed until a month later. Walpole's four brothers also served in the war (although he was the only one to die) with his elder brother Corporal John Walpole awarded the Military Medal; sold together with copied service records, Commonwealth War Graves details and war diary extracts as well as two articles related to the recipient and copy of Michael Palin's The Last Day of World War I which features the recipient, along with an original Anson Battalion Cap Badge and three Northampton County Council medals for good conduct and punctual attendance representing two, three and four years, along with two 'R.N.D.' shoulder flashes and a lanyard.

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Sold for
£900

Starting price
£190