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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 260

Pair: Corporal L. T. Wakefield, 15th (Nottingham) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), one of twenty five men killed in action on 19 August 1917 during an attack on Smissen Post, Epehy

British War and Victory Medals (11941 Cpl. L. T. Wakefield. Notts. & Derby. R.), minor contact wear, very fine (2)

Leonard Thomas Wakefield was born at Derby, Nottinghamshire in 1897, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Wakefield of 31 Balderton Gate, Newark. His father served as a Colour-Serjeant with 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment in India, and re-joined for service during the Great War. Wakefield himself attested with the 15th (Nottingham) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). His father was killed in action on 7 January 1916, while also serving with the Sherwood Foresters. The younger Wakefield was with the Battalion during the Battle of the Somme and later on 19 August 1917 when they took part in an assault near Epehy on a redoubt set atop a knoll called Smissen Post (named after the regimental Chaplain). The attack was successful, with the Crellin Avenue and Cochran Avenue trenches taken as well. Casualties amounted to 25 killed, 55 wounded (of whom two later died) and 5 missing - among the dead was Wakefield, who is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial; sold together with copied research including Commonwealth War Graves details, casualty lists and extracts from the Battalion War Diary as well as the recipient’s M.I.C. and a copied photograph.

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Sold for
£75

Starting price
£60