World War Medals

An original World War 1 medal trio comprising 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The medals are named as follows. Edge bruising, good fine or better. Also mounted on card with photocopy of the relevant date extract from the Regimental History and original Memorial Scroll Pte: Thomas James New – S. Thomas James New was born in Machen, Monmouthshire. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers in the French theatre of war from 4 December 1915. New was killed in action on the Western Front, 19 May 1917. On this date the Battalion were to win a Victoria Cross as a result of Sergeant Albert Whites bravery in action at Monchy-le-Preux. On May 14th it was back in the Monchy defences, C Company in the front line in Snaffle Trench along with the K. The others being in support in Orchard and East Trenches. The trenches were in bad condition and needed unlimited work, being full of rubbish, lacking proper fire-steps, waterlogged in places, too shallow in others, none too sanitary and unprotected by wire. Much good work was put in, but this tour of duty was made memorable by the great gallantry of one of D Company on May 19th when D was assisting the Border Regiment and the Inniskillings in an attack. D, who were on the left of the Borders, had as objective the portion of Devils Trench just astride of Bit Lane. To protect Ds left a rifle grenade section was to halt near the Northern end of a disused and waterlogged trench, half-way across No Mans Land, and give covering fire, while directly Devils Trench was reached bombers were to work Northward along it and so cover the erection of a strong point. A and B were to move up into Snaffle and Shrapnel Trenches when D went forward, A providing a carrying party to take wire, bombs and other supplies across to D. Directly the British barrage started German machine guns opened from behind some wire on our left of Bit Lane, and despite the barrage they maintained a destructive fire. Men fell fast, especially as they neared the waterlogged Arrow Trench. Captain Davies led the advance with the utmost courage, running forward well ahead to give the right direction. He was well backed up by Second Lieutenant V. Jones, but they were both shot down. Sergeant [Albert] White, seeing that all depended on putting these machine guns out of action, promptly made for the nearest one which seemed to be doing most of the damage. Followed by Corporal Nowel he dashed at the party covering it, shot three and bayoneted a fourth, and was within a few yards of the gun when he caught its full discharge and went down riddled with bullets. His self-sacrifice, subsequently recognised by a posthumous V. Diverted the fire from the other attackers for a moment, but even so it was impossible for them to reach their objective. The attack came to a standstill, the survivors sheltering in shell holes until darkness let them crawl back. Four officers and 112 men had gone over the top; only 61 got back, nearly half of whom were wounded. Private New has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. The item “Original WW1 1914/15 Star Medal Trio, South Wales Borderers, KIA, Casualty” is in sale since Thursday, September 24, 2020. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War I (1914-1918)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “hornbeammilitaria” and is located in Birmingham, West Midlands. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
• Country/ Organization: Great Britain
• Type: Medals & Ribbons
• Conflict: World War I (1914-1918)
• Service: Army
• Era: 1914-1945