Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: 2nd Lieutenant C. I. Lillington, Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action in the relief of Kut operations of March 1916

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.), extremely fine (3) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th Regiment and Somerset Light Infantry.

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Conrad Ivan Lillington was killed in action at Es Sinn on 8 March 1916, while serving in the 1/4 Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, during the relief of Kut operations.

Born in March 1892, he had been educated at St. Peter’s School, Weston super Mare, and at Clifton College, where he was a member of the O.T.C. and shot for the college at Bisley. According to a friend, he abandoned his final law examinations on the outbreak of hostilities, counting his ‘prospects and career as nothing in the face of his country’s need.’ Of his military career, an obituary states:

‘He enlisted on 22 August 1914; on 7 October 1914 he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Volunteer Battalion (Prince Albert’s) Somerset Light Infantry and two days later sailed with his Battalion for India. He served in India at Madras, Jullundur, Amritsar, Peshawar and Nowshera and sailed from Karachi for the Persian Gulf on 16 February 1916. He died for England at Es Sinn, in Mesopotamia, on 8 March 1916. His Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Cox, wrote that he was killed “while he was gallantly advancing with his Company to the attack of a position.” A brother officer wrote of him: “We all admired him for his unselfishness and the conscientious way he carried out his smallest duty. He died most gallantly, close up to the enemy’s position ...” ’

Lillington has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial.