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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 271

Pair: Private D. E. Doughty, 1/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, one of the famous 'Vanished Battalion' - which was the subject of the motion picture All The King's Men starring David Jason - who disappeared during an attack on Kuchak Anafarta Ova on 12 August 1915

1914-15 Star (2273 Pte D. E. Doughty. Norf. R.); Victory Medal (2273 Pte. D. E. Doughty. Norf. R.),good very fine (2)

Donald Ernest Doughty was born at Downham Market, Norfolk on 7 March 1895, the son of William and Francis Doughty of Downham, Norfolk. Employed as a Groom prior to enlistment, he attested with the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment and was embodied for service on 10 August 1914. Entering the war at Gallipoli on 6 August 1915, the Battalion went into action at Kuchak Anafarta Ova. Despite heavy fire they managed to find a weak point in the Ottoman lines and force their way through. Unsupported, a large proportion of them pushed on, led by Lieutenant Colonel Proctor-Beauchamp. The gap in the line closed behind them and the Battalion vanished completely out of knowledge. It wasn't until 1919 that the details of their last stand were discovered with their bodies found spread out over a mile, with the bulk of them concentrated around a farm. Doughty was one of those who went missing during the attack and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial; sold together with Commonwealth War Graves details and typed research referring to the 'Vanished Battalion'.

Further entitled to a British War Medal 1914-20.

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Sold for
£500

Starting price
£210