Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Rifleman W. Cork, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, killed in action, 2 November 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (Y-570 Pte., 13/K.R.R.C.) edge bruising, nearly very fine £240-280

M.M. London Gazette 14 January 1918.

William Lovatt Cork came from Warrington, Lancashire; he joined the 13th Battalion K.R.R.C. and went with them to France on 30 July 1915.

The Battalion, as part of 111 Brigade 37th Division took part in the Battle of the Somme. They arrived from the Arras Sector on 5 July and then occupied front line positions around La Boiselle and Albert. During this period they suffered 176 casualties. They remained in the Somme area and fought at High Wood, Mametz Wood and, when attached to the 63rd Division, took an important part in the capture of Beaucourt. During this period they suffered approximately 350 casualties.

Between 11-12 September 1917, as part of 37th Division, they captured the village of Trescault after severe hand-to-hand fighting where they suffered approximately 50 casualties. It was possibly in this engagement that Rifleman Cork earned his Military Medal.

Riflemen William Cork was killed in action on 2 November 1918, aged 21 years. He was buried in the Beaurain British Cemetery in Nord, France. The 5th Division captured the village of Beaurain on 23 October 1918 and the Beaurain Cemetery was constructed two weeks later. It contains the graves of 57 British soldiers and this figure includes 4 lieutenants and 25 soldiers from the K.R.R.C. Rifleman Cork was the son of Mr Frederick Lovatt Cork and Mrs Alice Cork of 41, Eldon Street, Warrington.