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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 480

The campaign group of three awarded to Private W. Bennie, Liverpool Regiment, who was treated by Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, V.C. & Bar, M.C.

1914-15 Star (3682 Pte. W. Bennie. L'Pool R.); British War Medal (3682 Pte. W. Bennie. L'Pool R.); Victory Medal (Bennie. L'Pool R.), attempted erasure of naming on Victory Medal, sold together with an original archive including a medical note handwritten by two-time Victoria Cross recipient Noel Godfrey Chavasse, very fine overall (3)

'Liverpool Scottish
Pte Bennie 3682 X Coy
Rheumatic Peritonitis of skin? with fluctuations of temp
Pte Bennie has been out since Nov. 1914 he has been never well & suffered with Rheumatism all the time but we have managed to keep him going.
Now he is not fit for trenches & should very deservedly obtain some light duty at the base.
Dec.16.15
N G Chavasse
Capt Rennie?
Ms. K L'Pool Scott'

William Bennie was born in 1888 in Litherland, Liverpool, one of eight children born to William Bennie Sr. and his wife Helen. The Bennie family resided at 16 Servia Road, Litherland. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Bennie attested at Liverpool on 14 September 1914 and joined the 10/Liverpool Regiment. He volunteered for overseas service, was posted to B Company, and sent to France on 27 March 1915. That June he was sick in hospital in Mont-de-Cats, Godewaersvelde. Upon his release from hospital Bennie transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers with whom he served under number 203864. He was later disembodied on 21 March 1919 and returned to his family home in Litherland, where he later received his Great War trio. After the War Bennie served on the committee of the Seaforth & Litherland Constitutional Club.

Sold together with original archive including:

(i)
Handwritten letter in ink and pencil by two-time Victoria Cross recipient Noel Godfrey Chavasse, one of few remaining documents bearing his signature

(ii)
Original documents including certificate of disembodiment, demobilization account, medical inspection report, handwritten receipt for equipment, and box of issue in envelope

(iii)
A number of original photographs featuring Bennie in uniform, with family, and with his Regiment

(iv)
The King's Liverpool Scottish Regiment cap badge hallmarked J.R. Gaunt, London, silver, with two lugs to the reverse, very fine

(v)
1914 Christmas tin containing identification tags and trio of coins suspended on metal loop including coin commemorating the visit of the Prince of Wales to India November 1875.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£450