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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 157

The campaign group of four awarded to Captain G. E. Ward, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action on 25 September 1915, the First Day of the Battle of Loos, the act which won the Regiment their first Victoria Cross of the Great War

1914 Star (7552 Cpl. G. Ward. 2/R. Suss: R); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. E. Ward.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (George Ernest Ward), all housed within a glazed frame, together with portrait photograph of the recipient, all but extremely fine (Lot)

George Ernest Ward was born in 1884 and served in France with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment from 12 September 1914. Commissioned in the field in November 1914, he would be killed in action in their costly action of 25 September 1915, the First Day of the Battle of Loos.

Attacking from 0730hrs, together with two Companies of 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment were ordered forward from 2 Brigade reverse to make another attack. Half an hour later a message arrived at Divisional HQ that they were in the German front line and believing that the German opposition had been broken, 2 Brigade were ordered to push on quickly. At 0900hrs another message, correct this time, arriving saying that the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment had not in fact entered the German line but that in the face of concentrated fire they had been forced to take cover wherever they could. Sergeant Harry Wells took a Victoria Cross for his part in the attack. The butchers bill for the 2nd Battalion was at nearly 500 casualties, including Ward. He had been engaged to be married at the time, Ward was buried in the Dud Corner Cemetery and his grave was inscribed 'IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY FIANCE R.I.P.'

Sold together with a large glazed and framed hand-coloured photograph of the recipient.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£550