Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Private E. G. Bland, Leicestershire Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (203290 Pte., Leic. R.) contained in original named card box of issue; together with, illuminated memorial scroll; B.R.C.S. letter regarding the circumstances of his death and several other items of original documentation, extremely fine (2) £30-40

Private Edmund Gains Bland was born and enlisted at Leicester. He was killed in action France and Flanders on 21 March 1918 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

The British Red Cross letter included with the lot gives details of a statement made by 38774 Pte. Bland of the Leicestershire Regiment ‘Bland who was no relation of mine was an accountant at Leicester. I was in the next trench to him at Lagincourt on the morning of 21 March and I saw him as he lay dead, having been killed instantaneously with four or five others by a shell. He was still lying there next day when the Germans captured the trench and me.’