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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 315

Three: Private W. Grimshaw, ‘D’ Company, 19th (3rd Salford Pals) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who joined underage as one of the original ‘Pals’ and later became a Prisoner of War on 25 April 1918 during the Fall of Mount Kemmel in the Ypres Salient

1914-15 Star (18949 Pte W. Grimshaw. Lan: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (18949 Pte. W. Grimshaw. Lan. Fus.), lacquered, very fine (3)

William Grimshaw was born at Salford, Manchester in 1898, the son of John Grimshaw of 12 Muslin Street, Salford. Attesting with the Lancashire Fusiliers on 27 April 1915 at Pendleton and entered the war in France on 23 November 1915. Grimshaw was discovered to have joined underage on 19 September 1916 and was forced to return to Britain on 21 September 1916. Re-joining he was posted first to 3rd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and later to the 23rd Infantry Base Depot. Returning to France on 6 March 1918 he was again with his old Battalion in the field on 17 March, serving with ‘D’ Company.

The Battalion was stationed at Kemmel on 25 April 1918 when at 02:30 they came under a heavy artillery bombardment. The infantry assault began at 06:00 and swiftly gained ground, pushing back the French to the South and taking the village of Kemmel. This all but cut off the troops on Mount Kemmel, leaving surrounded by the German Alpine Corps and by 07:10 the summit was in German hands. The Battalion was holding a spur on the right of the hill but they soon found themselves outflanked with the Battalion headquarters surrounded. By 19:00 Kemmel had fallen with 14 officers and 333 other ranks listed as missing. Grimshaw was one of those men, being repatriated on 27 November 1918 and transferred to the ‘Z’ Class reserve on 13 March. After the war he again joined the Reserves in ‘D’ Section, Army Reserve on 14 April 1923. Four of Grimshaw’s brothers also served with one dying on 7 October 1915 and another, John Grimshaw being taken prisoner with him; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., service papers and extracts relating to the fall of Kemmel as well as a copied picture of the recipient and his brother with their unit.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£60