Five: Company Sergeant Major J. Hemmings, Middlesex Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, on which date the 1st Battalion suffered over 450 casualties

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (6262 Cpl: J. Hemmings: Midd’x Regt.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Jidballi (6262 Corpl. J. Hemmings. Middlesex Regt.); 1914 Star (L-6262 Sjt. J. Hemmings. 1/Middx: R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-6262 Sjt. J. Hemmings. Midd’x. R.); together with the recipient’s aluminium identity disc, first two with contact marks and minor edge bruising, these nearly very fine, the Great War awards good very fine and a rare combination to the Regiment (5) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: Cross Collection, J. B. Hayward, January 1973.

James Hemmings was born in West Kensington and attested for the Middlesex Regiment in London. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, and then with No. 3 Company, Mounted Infantry in Somaliland, and was one of just 24 other ranks from the Regiment who received the Africa General Service Medal with clasps for Somaliland 1902-04 and Jidballi.

Hemmings served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 August 1914, and was advanced Acting Company Sergeant Major. He was killed in action at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, on which date the Battalion suffered 10 officers and 73 other ranks killed; 7 officers and 285 other ranks wounded; and 66 other ranks missing. He is buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France.