Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant B. C. Banks, Durham Light Infantry, late Northern Cyclist Battalion, who was killed in action in the assault on the Butte de Warlencourt on 5 November 1916

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. B. C. Banks.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (2. Lieut. B. C. Banks. Durh. L.I.), nearly extremely fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups.

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Bertie Charleton Banks was born in 1892, the son William Banks, of 16, Dunbar Street, Sunderland. A pre-war territorial, having served with the Northern Cyclist Battalion, he was commissioned into 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry as Second Lieutenant, and was killed in action during their assault on the Butte de Warlencourt on 5 November 1916. A report in the Newcastle Journal states that his parents received a letter from the C.O. of his battalion, stating that a soldier who was with Banks reported that he was shot through the head and died instantly. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.