Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant F. Rice, South Wales Borderers, who was killed in action at Beaumont-Hamel on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. F. Rice. S. Wales Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. F. Rice.); Memorial Plaque (Fred Rice) in card envelope, trace of verdigris to VM, otherwise very fine (4) £700-£900

Fred Rice was commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on 2 March 1915, and served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War in Gallipoli from 30 May 1915. Proceeding to the Western Front, attached to the 2nd Battalion, he was killed in action on 1 July 1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On this day the Battalion was detailed to attack Beaumont-Hamel, their objective being Y Ravine. Leaving their start positions at zero hour, they were soon cut down by machine gun fire, with most of the leading waves getting no further than their own wire. Those that did reach the German line were quickly killed, and the Battalion suffered total casualties of 372. Rice was amongst those killed, and he is buried in Y Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France.

Sold together with two South Wales Borderers cap badges.