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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 331

Four: Private G. Amos, 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), who was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (16407 Pte. G. Amos. Notts: & Derby: R.); British War and Victory Medals (16407 Pte. G. Amos. Notts. & Derby. R.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (George Amos), in its card envelope of issue, the last a little polished, otherwise good very fine (4)

George Amos, a native of Bolsover, served in France from 27 August 1915. Amos was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion was involved in an attack on Ovillers. Moving forward to the British front line from the reserve at Authuille Wood, they then advanced to the German front line, but encountered heavy machine gun fire from the front and both flanks and were pinned down in No Man’s Land, suffering a total of 518 casualties that day.

His wife was sent notification that he was wounded and missing on 17 August, but his death was later confirmed. Amos is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial. He had previously sent his family a moving poem, extracts include:

'Tomorrow you will look for me and in your usual way, call out for me 'Daddy' joyfully, expectant of my play.

I shall not answer to your call to sail the boat or roll the ball.

I shall not see you fast asleep, in mother's arms; I shall not see you laugh and weep like April's changing charms; with poignant greiving I shall miss the morning romp, the bedtime kiss.

These recollections almost make me in my duty pause, cancel the step I mean to take, to serve my country's cause. But who could call his conscience just pacific to the Prussian last?...

Good-night my little child, good-night, with you I'd rather be; But what were life without the life of sacred liberty, or England's glorious heritage beneath a blood & iron rage? G.A.'

Sold together with letter to his wife, Soldier's Daily Remembrancer, Bolsolver Roll of Honour, Bolsover Wesleyan Special Memorial Service 25 July 1920 programme, Certificates of Marriage and Death of his widow, a speech written by Amos regarding service in the New Army, closing with 'Kaiser Bill will think "Hell's been let loose"', besides the poem previously mentioned and copied research.

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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£400