Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. Howe, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who died at sea when the troopship Transylvania was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean on 4 May 1917
British War and Victory Medals (37101 Pte. J. Howe. R.W. Fus.) good very fine

The British War Medal awarded to Private O. Edwards, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 27 July 1917
British War Medal 1914-20 (291798 Pte. O. Edwards. R.W. Fus.) good very fine

The Victory Medal awarded to Private J. F. Thomas, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 19 May 1917
Victory Medal 1914-19 (2739 Pte. J. F. Thomas. R.W. Fus.) generally good very fine (4) £70-£90

John Howe was born in Coventry and attested there for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He served with the 5th Battalion during the Great War, and died at sea on 4 May 1917, when the troopship Transylvania was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean south from Cape Vado, Gulf of Genoa, by the German submarine U 63 whilst on a voyage from Marseilles to Alexandria carrying troops and a cargo of Government stores. 12 crew, including the Master, 29 military officers and 373 other ranks were killed.

Owen Edwards was born at Llangollen, Denbighshire, and enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers in July 1916. He was posted to the 15th Battalion on 12 June 1917 and killed in action on 27 July 1917, aged 34. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

John Frederick Thomas was killed in action in France on 19 May 1917, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, having previously served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.