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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 779

Three: Private H. Bunkham, Welsh Guards, who was killed in action by sniper fire on 9 May 1916

British War and Victory Medals (1611 Pte. H. Bunkham. W. Gds.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Herbert Bunkham), framed under glass in an attractive wooden frame, the plaque drilled at 12 and 6 o'clock for mounting, otherwise good very fine (3)

Herbert Bunkham was born at Cardiff Glamorgan in 1891, the son of Walter and Susan Bunkham of 26 Pontypridd Street, Cardiff. Enlisting with the Welsh Guards at Cardiff he was posted to the 1st Battalion in France and was still with them in the run up to the Somme Offensive. 1st Battalion was stationed at Potije in May 1916 when they moved up to the forward trenches to undertake a tour of duty.

The war diary notes patrols to try and capture German prisoners on 9 May, despite the poor weather. The only other note was that the incessant sniping from German lines had caused the death of the Brigade Commander Brigadier-General Hayworth, behind the lines of the Grenadier Guards. Bunkham is listed as killed in action on this day, the war diary notes 1 other rank killed and another wounded by the German snipers. He is buried at Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery; sold together with an original photograph and Welsh Guards Cap Badge as well as copied research comprising a War Diary entry, pension summery and Soldiers Died in the Great War Summery as well as a Commonwealth War Graves Certificate.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£100