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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 375

A Great War 1914 Star group of three awarded to Private F. Blows of the Monmouthshire Regiment, who served with the 2nd Battalion that took part in the 'Christmas Truce' of December 1914, and who was subsequently discharged on 3 August 1917 as a result of sickness

1914 Star (2116 Pte F. Blows. Mon:R.); British War and Victory Medals (2116 Pte. F. Blows. Monmouth. R.), very fine (3)

Fredrick Blows enlisted into the Monmouthshire Regiment on 23 June 1914 and entered the war in France on 7 November 1914 serving with the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment. C & D Companies entered the trenches on 21 November to familiarise themselves and as a result earned their clasp, this was followed by A & B Companies who relieved them on the 23 November 1914.

The 2nd Monmouthshire Battalion was in the front line on 25 December 1914 and took part in the 'Christmas Truce' north of Armentieres. Along with their colleagues in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, they however were much more suspicious of the German soldiers’ motives than the Fusiliers had been. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel E. Cuthbertson, allowed some soldiers into no-man’s land to find out as much as they could about the German trenches and also to check that no new trenches were being dug or any other skulduggery being attempted. At one meeting in no-man’s land a Welsh soldier was offered a glass of wine. He refused to drink it until a German soldier had sampled it first.

Lt. Col Cuthbertson’s report noted that: “The German uniforms were clean and their boots were very good. They had plenty of tobacco and gave our men cigarettes, cigars and excellent socks. Several were wearing short sling coats like oilskins. A large majority wore glasses. It was noticed that while the Germans would talk English, on German being spoken they took cover like rabbits.”

The 2nd Battalion took part in the action on Frezenberg Ridge in May 1915 north of the line, no real fighting took place compared to the sister Battalions. The 2nd comprised 19 officers and 580 O.R.s, twice the strength of 1st and 3rd Batallions. They were redesignated as a Pioneers Batallion as part of 29th Division. They took part in the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916 at Hawthorn Ridge, in this capacity in small bodies supporting attacking waves, it proved to be chaotic in the accounts given.

Blows was later given the number 265467 and during his service was discharged on 3 August 1917 as a result of sickness and is also entitled to a Silver War Badge (220281).

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£100