A First World War ‘Killed In Action’ military medal group that belonged to Private Alfred Horace Maiden.
A First World War ‘Killed In Action’ military medal group which belonged to a brave Shropshire soldier is set to be sold at an auction in the county next month.
The medals, which belonged to Private Alfred Horace Maiden, who was born in Madeley in 1886, ae expected to fetch up to £500 at Shrewsbury-based Halls Fine Art’s timed, online militaria auction which will run from February 2-20.
To consign items to the auction before the closing date of January 25, contact Caroline Dennard, Halls Fine Art’s militaria specialist, on Tel: 01743 450700.
14710 Private Maiden enlisted in Ironbridge, ultimately serving with the 6th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was wounded on July 23, 1916 and later killed in action less than two months later, on September 20.
His name is included at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which remembers 72,337 missing British and South African servicemen who died in the Battles of the Somme between 1915-‘18, with no known grave. The memorial is near the village of Thiepval in Picardy, France.
The medal group comprises the 1914-‘15 Star and Military Medal and a Victory Medal, five white metal Coronation medals for 1911 and 1937 and three army cap badges. Also included in the group are Shropshire Education Committee School Attendance Dance medals and clasps from 1908.
Private Maiden received his Military Medal for action on June 30, 1916 in Railway Wood-Y Wood sector, Ypres, for gallantry in helping Second Lieutenant Lindop stop a counterattack on their raiding party.
Also included in the auction is a First World War death plaque to Ordinary Seaman Michael McGregor, RNVR, Tyneside/Z533, which is valued at a modest £80 despite a fascinating back story.
Seaman McGregor was one of 195 crewmates killed in action when their ship, HMS Bayano, was sunk by German U-boat U 27, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener, off the Clyde, Scotland on March 11, 1915.
HMS Bayano, from the 10th Cruiser Squadron, was an armed merchant cruiser that deployed experimental indicator nets to counter German submarines. She was en route to Liverpool for re-coaling when hit by a single torpedo.
Wireless operators reputedly remained at their posts to broadcast SOS, others stayed to hand out life jackets to frightened crewmates and the captain resolved to go down with the ship after as many of his crew as possible had been saved.
U-boat captain Wegener claimed a total of 10 ships and two warships but was later killed in a controversial ambush. Goaded into attacking the unmanned steamer Nicosian, his U-boat was destroyed by British Q ship Baralong, which was flying US colours to get near her.
“Baralong hoisted the proper British colours at the moment she attacked and the six German survivors, including Wegener, were either shot in the water or after boarding the Nicosian, reputedly in revenge for the sinking of the Lusitania,” explained Caroline.
To consign items to the auction before the closing date of January 25, contact Caroline Dennard, Halls Fine Art’s militaria specialist, on Tel: 01743 450700.
14710 Private Maiden enlisted in Ironbridge, ultimately serving with the 6th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was wounded on July 23, 1916 and later killed in action less than two months later, on September 20.
His name is included at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which remembers 72,337 missing British and South African servicemen who died in the Battles of the Somme between 1915-‘18, with no known grave. The memorial is near the village of Thiepval in Picardy, France.
The medal group comprises the 1914-‘15 Star and Military Medal and a Victory Medal, five white metal Coronation medals for 1911 and 1937 and three army cap badges. Also included in the group are Shropshire Education Committee School Attendance Dance medals and clasps from 1908.
Private Maiden received his Military Medal for action on June 30, 1916 in Railway Wood-Y Wood sector, Ypres, for gallantry in helping Second Lieutenant Lindop stop a counterattack on their raiding party.
Also included in the auction is a First World War death plaque to Ordinary Seaman Michael McGregor, RNVR, Tyneside/Z533, which is valued at a modest £80 despite a fascinating back story.
Seaman McGregor was one of 195 crewmates killed in action when their ship, HMS Bayano, was sunk by German U-boat U 27, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener, off the Clyde, Scotland on March 11, 1915.
HMS Bayano, from the 10th Cruiser Squadron, was an armed merchant cruiser that deployed experimental indicator nets to counter German submarines. She was en route to Liverpool for re-coaling when hit by a single torpedo.
Wireless operators reputedly remained at their posts to broadcast SOS, others stayed to hand out life jackets to frightened crewmates and the captain resolved to go down with the ship after as many of his crew as possible had been saved.
U-boat captain Wegener claimed a total of 10 ships and two warships but was later killed in a controversial ambush. Goaded into attacking the unmanned steamer Nicosian, his U-boat was destroyed by British Q ship Baralong, which was flying US colours to get near her.
“Baralong hoisted the proper British colours at the moment she attacked and the six German survivors, including Wegener, were either shot in the water or after boarding the Nicosian, reputedly in revenge for the sinking of the Lusitania,” explained Caroline.
The First World War death plaque to Ordinary Seaman Michael McGregor.
