' A little piece of home, Mother.'

WWI 'Somme gallantry' medals for sale with Maxse parchment and 'personality paperwork.'

The 1914-15 Star Trio and grouping for sale, including a Gallantry Parchment from Major-General Maxse. The group to Private William Smith, East Kent Regiment, The Buffs.

The sale includes:

1914-15 Star Trio

Gallantry Parchment dated 1st July 1916. The Gallantry Parchment stating 'During the Battle of the Somme..'

photograph of Private William Smith dressed in regimental uniform.

Field compass in box of issue.

Regimental Brass tie-pin.

Regimental  brass badge.

A commemorative medal for King George V & Queen Anne.

A field wallet with a bullet- or schrapnel hole through it and the contents. The contents include a range of  family etc.

1915 Christian Soldiers Diary.

A cutting from a plant wrapped in a piece of paper with the hand-written sentiment, 'A little piece of home, Mother.'

A hand-drawn map detailing the roads to Becordel - Becourt, Bray, Fricourt, Albert, Meaulte, dugout 11, H.Q. 

Letter from Howard Williamson.

Condition report: The medals mounted to a bar, lightly toned. The Gallantry Parchment in overall excellent condition. The compass in excellent condition. Tie-pin & badge in very good to excellent condition. Photograph of Smith good and clear. The commemorative medal in mint condition. The field wallet with bullet- or schrapnel hole and contents. 

Notes on Private William Smith: Smith joined The Buffs, on 5th September 1914 at Margate. He left for France with the 7th Bn, The Buff's on 28th July 1915.

Smith was mentioned in Dispatches for his actions on the first day of The Battle of the Somme.

The Buff's were part of the 18th Division attack on the south line at Carnoy. Smith was promoted to Lance Corporal on 20th October 1916, and was wounded in the back and the chest on 18th November 1816 (during the attack on Desire Trencj, near Grandcourt).

Smith's company were hit hard by machine gun fire. Only one man from A Company was uninjured. Smith was evacuated, and returned to England on 8th December 1916. Due to his wounds, Smith did not return to active service.

Note: Smith's field wallet is visible in the top pocket of his uniform (photograph). The bullet or schrapnel hole possibly occured during the attack on Desire Trenj, when  Smith was wounded.

Additional notes: An exceptionally rare Somme gallantry grouping. This group is known to the author, Howard Williamson, who provides a letter discussing this grouping. Within the content of this hand-written letter, Williamson states:

"I have examined this lot in detail. It is an exceptional lot."

paperwork: Various copies of paperwork including medal entitlement.