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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 466

A First Battle of Ypres group of four awarded to Lance Corporal G. Trigg, 26th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who was Killed in Action on 1 November 1914, when the unit were thrown into the line as infantry to hold the line the aftermath of the Worcesters famous charge at Gheluvelt

1914 Star (12280 L.Cpl. G. Trigg. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (12280 Spr. G. Trigg. R.E.); Memorial Plaque (Gideon Trigg), sold together with a named card box of issue, good very fine (4)

Gideon Trigg was born at Shoeburyness, Essex in 1881, the son of Samuel and Mary Trigg. He enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry in 1902 and was posted to South Africa from May-November 1902, just missing out on entitlement to any medals. Re-enlisting with the Royal Engineers at Chatham in Janaury 1903, Trigg entered the war in France on 17 August 1914.

The Royal Engineers saw very heavy service after the Battle of Mons, blowing up bridges and other valuable assets ahead of the German advance. Trigg, serving with the 26th Field Company, was attached to the 1st Division. They were part of the Battle of Ypres in November 1914 and on 1 November 1914 when the German army was on the Brink of breaking through the British line the 26th Field Company was outfitted as infantry and sent into the line. The History of the Great War Military Operations - France and Belgium, 1914 (Antwerp, La Bassee, Armentieres, Messines, and Ypres October - November 1914 refers, stating:

'There was little to stop the German advance if it were persisted in; for the line of the I. Corps had been thinned to the utmost to support the most threatened spots. There was now a decrease in the noise of battle, which might be attributable to a successful counter-attack or ominous of the approaching end. The 1st Division sent up towards Gheluvelt its last reserve of fighting men, technical troops, the 23rd and 26th Field Companies Royal Engineers, under Colonel A. L. Schreiber. The latter company was shortly afterwards despatched as infantry, without technical equipment, to Major-General Bulfin's command.'

Trigg is listed as killed in action on 1 November, doubtless during the units heroic efforts in holding back the German Offensive. He is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate

Starting price
£80