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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 574

'Private A. Lombardini, a Cardiff member of the 7th (Cyclists') Battalion, Welsh Regiment, has been warmly commended by the Pembrokshire Coroner for swimming out to sea in a strong current in an attempt to rescue a woman in Freshwater Bay.'

Three: Private A. Lombardini, 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, late 7th Welsh (Cyclist) Battalion, who received accolades for his brave attempt to save a woman from drowning only to be tragically die of wounds after his patrol was ambushed in January 1917

British War and Victory Medals (1523 Pte. A. Lombardini. Welsh R.), with named card box of issue; Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Antony Lombardini), minor contact marks, very fine (3)

Anthony 'Tony' Lombardini was born at Cardiff in November 1894, the son of Kate Lombardini. Working before the war at Cardiff Royal Infirmary he was also a member of the Territorial Force with 7th (Cyclist) Battalion, Welsh Regiment. It was while on Patrol in 1915 at Milford Haven with this unit that Lombardini spotted a body floating in the Freshwater. He immediately rushed into the water and swam out to attempt a rescue, sadly he was too late and the women, Mrs Sarah Jane Morgan was already dead. Despite the failure Lombardini was commended for his attempt and awarded with a silver cigarette case by George Morgan, the dead woman's husband.

Transferring to the 2/7th (Cyclist) Battalion, Welsh Regiment later in 1915 being stationed on the East Coast. Posted to the 14th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers in late summer 1916, likely as a replacement for the losses suffered at Mametz Wood. Stationed around Ypres in late 1916 the fighting had died down however trench raids remained common, Lomardini wrote to his mother in the aftermath of one, stating:

'We have Fritz a big bombardment a few nights ago, then after that a lot of our chaps went over to his trench and bombed him out of it, the next night he came to our wire and got the worst end of the stick.'

Not long later on the night of 20-21 January 1917 Lombardini was one of a small group sent on patrol with the War Diary Stating:

'A patrol under Ly. Lloyd of 10 men went out from the left Coy. They were detected from the German Parapet. The enemy opened a rapid fire which resulted in our suffering three casualties.'

Lombardini was one of the three, fatally wounded he died on the night of 21 January 1917 at 46 Casualty Clearing Station and is buried at Mendingham Military Cemetery; sold together with a silver cigarette case engraved 'To A Lombardine in appreciation of a brave act from G. Morgan 1915.', dog tags, a shoulder crown and a framed memorial scroll as well as a typed biographical summary, a large number of letter, newspaper articles and photographs along with copied research including newspaper articles, census data, M.I.C. and Commonwealth War Graves data.

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Sold for
£300

Starting price
£80