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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 248

'His chum and also the chaplain write to say that he had taken part in a brilliant and successful raid upon the enemy trenches, had returned safely to our own lines when a shell burst, killing him and wounding three of his comrades. This is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Trodd who has fallen in the war'

(Kent Messenger, 27 July 1918, refers)

A '1918 trench raid' casualty's Victory Medal awarded to Private J. Trodd, 1st/5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment), who was killed in action while returning from a raid in June 1918

Victory Medal 1914-1919 (5515 Pte. J. Trodd. Notts. & Derby. R.), good very fine

James Robert Trodd was born at Newhithe, Kent on 13 October 1880 the son of William and Anne Trodd, Hill Top Farm, Bell Lane, Maidstone. Working as a Bricklayer prior to enlisting with the Sherwood Foresters at Derby on 10 April 1916. Posted to the 1st/5th Battalion he entered the war in France on 12 July 1916 and served there throughout the heavy fighting of the Somme Offensive.

Hospitalised at 43 Casualty Clearing Station with a severe case of hepatitis on 15 December 1916 Trodd was admitted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital before being invalided back to Britain on 28 December. Returning to France on 29 July 1917 he was posted to the 2nd/5th Battalion on 17 August. While serving with this Battalion he suffered a serious gun shot wound to the chest on 26 September 1917 being admitted to 47 Casualty Clearing Station.

Again, invalided to Britain he entered St. Andrew Hospital on 6 October, remaining there until 8 February 1918 when he arrived back in France to join the 1st/5th Battalion. It was here that he too part in a trench raid near Le Touret on 18-19 June 1918, the object of which was to destroy two posts in enemy held houses over no-man's land. The after-action report states:

'I consider that great credit is due to Captain Glew, O.C. Raid, and 2nd Lieuts. Waterhouse, Moore, and Dench, and all ranks engaged in the operation for the splendid way they carried out every part of the raid according to the plan. The leaders sheweed [SIC] good initiative and the spirit of all ranks was magnificent'

Five parties advanced on the house from the south and cleared the houses in short order with the enemy losing a number of officers and other ranks as well as several men taken prisoner of war. The report also notes a suspicion that the enemy were expecting the raid as soon after it took place a heavy counter barrage was launched.

British losses were noted as 17 with several caused by their own barrage. Trodd survived the bulk of the fighting however he was killed upon his return as a result of the enemy shelling. He is buried at the Fouquieres Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais as well as being commemorated upon the Ditton War Memorial; sold together with copied research comprising Commonwealth War Graves Certificate, newspaper article relating to the recipient, and a photograph of the Ditton War Memorial as well as the recipient's Soldier's Died in the Great War entry, a War Diary entry and a report for the raid of 18-19 June 1918.

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Sold for
£50

Starting price
£10