A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties

Three: Private M. Timlin, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was posted missing, presumed killed in action, during the Battle of the Somme on 3 July 1916

1914-15 Star (12-11334 Pte. M. Timlin. North’d Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (12-11334 Pte. M. Timlin. North’d Fus.) all in named card boxes of issue, with two outer OHMS transmission envelopes both addressed to ‘Miss G. Barron, 1 Richardson Street, Ashington, Northumberland’; Memorial Plaque Michael Timlin) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, in OHMS transmission envelope similarly addressed, extremely fine (4) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

View
Collection

Michael Timlin was born in Amble, Northumberland, and attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers at Ashington, Northumberland. He served with the 12th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 9 September 1915, and was posted missing, presumed taken Prisoner of War on 3 July 1916. A report from one of Timlin’s comrades states:
‘This man was with a bombing party in Shelter Wood at the back of Mametz Wood. The bombers had to bomb a certain part of the trench and they all came back except this man. I know him well because he lives three doors off me at Ashington, Northumberland. They all think he is a prisoner.’

Six months later, Timlin’s name still not having appear on the list of Prisoners of War, it was formally concluded that he was killed in action on 3 July 1916. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Sold with named Record Office enclosure for the 1914-15 Star; postcard from the Regimental Chaplain; British Red Cross and Order of St. John Letter, dated 26 January 1917, all addressed to the recipient’s fiancée, Miss Grace Barron; a poem ‘Fall In’ reputedly written by the recipient; a fine portrait postcard photograph of the recipient; and copied research.