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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 273

Pair: Corporal W. Billings, 15th (1st City of Edinburgh) Battalion, Royal Scots, who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (17833 Cpl. W. Billings. R. Scots.), good very fine (2)

William Billings was born at Edgely, Stockport, Cheshire in 1892, the son of Henry and Mary Billings of Claireville, Woodlands Road, Altrincham, Cheshire. Working prior to the war as a Clerk with the Vulcan Boiler and General Insurance Company, King Street Manchester. Enlisting comparatively early on 26 September 1914 Billings was appointed Lance Corporal on 15 July 1915 and promoted Corporal 24 July 1915. Joining the war in France on 8 January 1916 he took part in his Battalion's attack south of La Boiselle on 1 July 1916, the First Day of the Battle of the Somme. Here they pushed passed the feature which came to be known as Scots' Redoubt and reached Peake Trench before being forced to retire to Wood Alley. The 15th and 16th Battalions, Royal Scots were some of the only troops of achieve their objectives during the Battle of the Somme although they paid a dear price in casualties. Billings was killed in action and is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial; sold together with copied research including service records, Commonwealth War Graves details and M.I.C. as well as a hand copied extracts from the book Manchester Scottish.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£210