A Collection of Medals to Recipients of the 1914 Star

Three: Private J. Sheel, Royal Marine Brigade, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was taken Prisoner of War during the retreat from Antwerp, 9 October 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (P.O. 9604. Pte. J. Sheel, R.M. Brigade.); British War and Victory Medals (P.O. 9604 Pte. J. Sheel. H.M.L.I.) good very fine (3) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Recipients of the 1914 Star.

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James Sheel was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1874 and enlisted into the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 9 April 1898. He served in October 1914 in the defence of Antwerp with “A” Company in the Portsmouth Battalion, Royal Marine Brigade, Royal Naval Division, and was taken Prisoner of War during the retreat from Antwerp on 9 October 1914. He may well have been one of the Portsmouth Battalion men taken at Moerbeke, when the train they were making their escape on was shelled and derailed by German forces. He was held prisoner of war at Gefangenenlager, Döberitz, Germany for the duration of the war.