Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Private W. E. Spurrey, Welsh Regiment, who was killed in action in the assault on Sari Bair, Gallipoli, on 8 August 1915

1914-15 Star (13797 Pte. W. E. Spurrey. Welsh R.); British War and Victory Medals (13797 Pte. W. E. Spurrey. Welsh R.); Memorial Plaque (William Edgar Spurrey); together with a Great War Tribute medal issued by the Neath Galvanizing Works, 26mm, gold (9ct., 9.15g), hallmarks for Birmingham 1919, the obverse inscribed with ‘The Great War 1914 - 1918, and in relief an allegorical representation of St. George slaying the dragon, the reverse with ‘For Services Done’, two torches with ribbon garland suspended, and engraved ‘Presented to W. Spurrey by his fellow Workmates at the Neath Galvanizing Works November 1919’, in Elkington & Co. case of issue; and a Neath Benevolent Board Subscriber’s jewel, gilt base metal and enamel, the plaque with two loops brazed to the reverse for hanging, nearly extremely fine, the tribute medal rare (6) £300-£400

William Edgar Spurrey was born at Neath in 1896, one of nine children to Alexander and Florence Spurrey of Mary Street, Neath. He was employed as a ‘riser’ in the Neath Steel Sheet and Galvanizing Company and was one of a group of men from the company to attest for service in early September 1914. Posted to the 8th (Pioneer) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, he embarked with his battalion at Avonmouth on 15 June 1915 and landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli on 5 August 1915, in time for the assault on Sari Bair on 8 August 1915. He was killed in action during the attack on Sari Bair; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

Sold with copied research which includes a photographic image of the recipient with his brother and sister.