Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private C. Kirtland, Monmouthshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the “First Day of the Somme”: aged just 17 years, he had previously tried to enlist on three occasions

British War and Victory Medals (3373 Pte., Monmouth. R.), together with related Memorial Plaque (Charles Kirtland), nearly extremely fine (3) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Monmouthshire Regiment formed by Lt. Col. P. A. Blagojevic, O. St. J., T.D..

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‘Mrs. Perry, of 78 Greenhill Road, Sebastopol, has received official notice that her son, Private Charles Kirtland, Monmouthshire Regiment, was killed in action on 1 July. In a letter received from a comrade, it is stated that Private Kirtland was killed by the bursting of a shell. Before joining the regiment, in November last, he was employed at the Panteg works and was a member of the St. Hilda’s Church Lads’ Brigade. He went to France on 1 March, and was killed four months later to the day. He was a nice, quiet, steady boy, 17 years of age last December, but was so involved with the necessity of all serving their country in the present crisis that he tried three times, unsuccessfully, to join the Colours at Newport, and then was accepted by the 2nd Monmouthshires. Much sympathy is felt with his mother’ (The Free Press of Monmouthshire refers).

Kirtland is buried in the Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart, the Somme, France.