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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 678

Five: Private R. P. Turgel, 4th Battalion London Regiment, who was seriously wounded on the First Day of the Somme

1914-15 Star (3336 Pte. R. P. Turgel. 4-Lond. R.), British War and Victory Medals (3336 Pte. Turgel. 4-Lond. R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, minor contact wear, very fine (5)

Rene Percy Turgel was embodied for service with the 2/4th Battalion, London Regiment on 6th November 1914 and entered the war in Egypt on 24 August 1914. His service here was brief, however, and he was soon returned to France as part of the build-up of British troops preceding the Battle of the Somme. Transferred to the 1/4th Battalion on 23 May 1916 he was still with this unit when it went over the top at Gommecourt on the First Day of the Somme. They advanced into a hurricane of machine-gun and artillery fire, but somehow made it through and joined the 1/2th Battalion in clearing the trenches.

Turgel was not so lucky, being caught in a shell blast he was seriously injured in the knee and later found to be suffering from shell shock. After treatment at 43 Casualty Clearing Station he was moved to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital and by the end of the month was back in Britain. Declared Supernumary on 25 July, Turgel's injuries proved severe and he was invalided from service on 9 March 1917.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£70