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Auction: 15002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 43

A Great War 1917 'French Theatre' M.M. Group of Three to Lance Corporal W.H. Chaplin, Wiltshire Regiment, Killed in Action, 10.4.1918
a) Military Medal, G.V.R. (13975 L.Cpl W.H. Chaplin. 6/Wilts: R.), minor official correction to rank
b) British War and Victory Medals (13975 Pte. W.H. Chaplin. Wilts: R.), good very fine (3)

M.M. London Gazette 21.8.1917 13975 L./C. W.H. Chaplin, Wilts. R.

13975 Lance Corporal Walter Henry Chaplin, M.M., born East Malling, Kent; served during the Great War with the 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment on the Western Front; killed in action, 10.4.1918, during the Battle of the Messines, when the battalion formed part of the 19th Division 'and were back in line on the Messines Ridge, and, on 10th April, were once more attacked by the Germans in great strength. By the middle of the afternoon the Battalion was under heavy frontal assault, which was held by vigorous automatic and rifle fire. An hour later both flanks were exposed, and a withdrawal was made to the support line, from where the enemy was again repulsed. At 6pm both flanks were attacked. The front companies did not receive the order to withdraw, and were surrounded, very few men getting away; the rest of the Battalion fell back fighting. Battalion Headquarters became heavily engaged, Lieutenant-Colonel Monreal was mortally wounded, and the Second-in-Command, Captain Garthwaite, was also wounded. During the night the survivors rallied, and the Battalion was withdrawn from the line the next day. At the beginning of the German attack the Wiltshires numbered 581, and, at the end, 181' (Regimental History refers); Lance-Corporal Chaplin is commemorated upon the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

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Sold for
£450