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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 464

Pair: Lieutenant M. Fullerton, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was the only Officer to come out unscathed from their famous attack on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, when part of the 36th (Ulster) Division, he was soon after severely wounded and latterly served with the King's African Rifles

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. M. Fullerton.), good very fine (2)

Marcus Fullerton was born on 20 March 1892 at Donaghadee and had served in the Queen's University O.T.C. as a Cadet. Commissioned into the Royal Irish Rifles he served in France from February 1916 and was with 'D' Company on 1 July 1916. He was the only Officer of the entire Battalion who returned unscathed after having gone 'over the top'. The Company reached the sunken road with about 16 men and then they bombed dugouts for about 150 yards and took some 70 prisoners. Counter-attacked, they barricaded themselves and awaited, in vain, for reinforcements. With just a few men left and no sign of re-supply, Fullerton was forced with withdraw.

He was subsequently ill with trench fever and then on 9 October 1916, was severely wounded when his trench was struck by a shell, being struck on his back and shoulders by the roof caving in. Treatment required two hypodermic injections into the spine on a daily basis.

Keen to return to the fold, he was declared fit and went on to see further service with the 4th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles in East Africa before War's end. Returned home to his work, Fullerton remained a figure in local life and was Hon. Secretary of the Donaghadee Lifeboat Station; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£110