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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 449

(x) Four: Private W. Oldfield, 'B' Company, 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action during the first week of the Battle of the Somme at Mametz Wood on 7 July 1916

1914-15 Star (4286 Pte. W. Oldfield. Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (4286 Pte. W. Oldfield. Lan. Fus.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque, in card envelope of issue (William Oldfield), very fine (4)

William Oldfield was born at Wigan Lancashire in 1889. He worked at the Pearson and Knowles Coal and Iron Co. prior to enlisting at Wigan on the outbreak of the Great War he was posted to 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and entered the war in France on 15 July 1915. The Battalion was part of the actions at the Bluff in the Ypres Salient between February and March 1916 before being moved south to take part in the Somme Offensive.

Here they entered the fighting on 2 July around Fricourt, shifting to Mametz Wood on the fifth day of fighting. A night attack was planned on 7 July after the successful capture of Quadrangle trench in order to secure Quadrangle Support trench, Pearl Alley and move on Contalmaison. Unfortunately the Germans were ready for them and their trenches were filled with troops. The result was a savage battle in which the Battalion -along with 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers- managed to get a toe hold in Pearl Alley and hold on until reinforcements arrived. The Lancashire Fusiliers' Annual states:

'The enemy seem to have had a suspicion that an attack was intended, and the Northumberland Fusiliers ran into a German raiding party on their way to attack our line. In any case they were on the alert and both Battalions were received with heavy machine gun and rifle fire and were driven back. The Lancashire Fusiliers managed to establish themselves in Pearl Alley and some small parties actually found their way into Contalmaison and destroyed several of the enemy's machine guns.'

Contalmaison eventually fell to the British attack although it was not held for long. Losses were high with 5 officers and 79 other ranks becoming casualties, Oldfield himself was killed in the fighting, he is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial; sold together with copied research including .M.I.C., medal rolls and newspaper cuttings as well as an extract from The Lancashire Fusiliers' Annual and Commonwealth War Graves details.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£190

Starting price
£70