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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 351

Three: Private G. McCall, 16th (Newcastle) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who served under the alias R. E. Etherington and was killed in action on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (16-709 Pte. R. E. Etherington. North'd Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (16-709 Pte. R. E. Etherington. North'd Fus.), good very fine (3)

George McCall, a native of Newcastle-on-Tyne, served during the Great War under the alias of Robert Ernest Etherington. He served in France from 22 November 1915 and was killed in action on 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack at Thiepval: according to the Official History of the Great War a football was followed into battle at zero hour. Within moments the leading waves were hit by machine gun fire, with the survivors forced to lay down and await any chance of returning to their lines. One report noted that the Battalion had advanced in perfect formation, the dead being later found in straight lines as if ‘dressed’ for parade. Relieved the following day, the Battalion suffered a total of 378 casualties.

McCall is commemorated upon the Thiepval Memorial.


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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£320