Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (3) (Lieut. W. G. Jackson; G-24038 Pte. H. W. Sargent. E. Kent R.; 203081 Pte. L. W. Smith. E. Kent R.) good very fine and better

Pair: Lance-Corporal W. Croft, Royal West Kent Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 31 July 1917
British War and Victory Medals (G-11452 Pte. W. Croft. R.W. Kent R.) nearly extremely fine (5) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to The Buffs, the East Kent Regiment.

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Wilfred George Jackson was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the East Kent Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 18 January 1915. He was wounded in action and taken Prisoner of War on 27 April 1915; an eyewitness reported that ‘this Officer was shot through the stomach at St. Julien, and taken Prisoner. Informant thinks that recovery was impossible.’ Jackson was promoted Lieutenant on 4 August 1915, but clearly had not survived his wounds, and was regarded for official purposes as having died on or since 27 April 1915. He has no known grave ands is commemorated on the Ploegsteert memorial, Belgium.

Herbert Walter Sargent was born in Braintree, Essex, and attested for the East Kent Regiment, serving with the 7th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. The Historical Records of the Buffs 1914-19 by R. S. H. Moody states: ‘On 23 September 1917 the Buffs moved to St. Janter Biezen. Five days later enemy aircraft flew over in the dark and dropped six bombs in the camp causing great devastation, killing 1 officer and 26 men, and wounding 3 officers and 63 men.’ Sargent was amongst those wounded, and he died of his wounds two days later on 30 September 1917. He is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium.

Leonard Walter Smith, a native of Stone-in-Oxney, Ashford, Kent, attested for the East Kent Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the western Front. He was killed in action on 9 April 1918; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

William Croft, a native of the Isle of Sheppey, was born in 1896 and attested for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Sheerness on 29 November 1915. He served with the 10th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 3 May 1916, and was appointed Lance-Corporal on 16 June 1917. He was killed in action on 31 July 1917; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Sold with copied research.