Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An emotive Family Group:

The Memorial Plaque bestowed upon Lance-Corporal H. Singleton (alias H. Holden), Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 5 August 1915
Memorial Plaque (Harry Holden) in card envelope, extremely fine

The Memorial Plaque bestowed upon Private E. Singleton, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 4 August 1916, whilst underage
Memorial Plaque (Edgar Singleton) in card envelope, extremely fine

The Memorial Plaque bestowed upon Private W. H. Singleton, East Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 31 July 1917
Memorial Plaque (William Holden Singleton) in card envelope, extremely fine (3) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family.

Harry Singleton (alias Harry Holden) was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, and attested for the Coldstream Guards at Accrington, Lancashire, on 31 October 1912. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914, and was killed in action on 5 August 1915. He is buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France, his C.W.G.C. headstone reading ‘Harry Singleton served as 3821 L. Cpl. H. Holden, Coldstream Guards’.

Edgar Singleton, the brother of Harry Singleton, was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, and attested there for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 25 November 1914, giving his age as 19 years and 1 month. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 April 1915, and was killed in action at Montaubon Alley during the Battle of the Somme on 4 August 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Correspondence from the recipient's father with the War Office, dated 29 February 1916, indicates that Edgar Singleton attested underage, his father stating that his true age was just 17.

William Holden Singleton, the brother of Harry and Edgar Singleton, was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, and attested there for the East Lancashire Regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action at Bellewarde Ridge on 31 July 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

The three brothers, the sons of William and Selina Singleton, were killed in three successive years, their deaths all occurring within the same calendar week. A fourth brother served in the Royal Navy, and survived the War.

Sold with a copied newspaper that contains a photograph of W. H. Singleton; and a large quantity of copied research.