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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 399

Three: Private A. E. Simcox, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, who died of wounds in 1915

1914-15 Star (6909 Pte. A. E. Simcox. Shrops:L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (SR-6909 Pte. A. E. Simcox. Shrops. L.I.), sold together with a dog-tag named to the recipient, good very fine (3)

Three: Private J. Pearce, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, who was killed in action in 1917

1914-15 Star (11676 Pte. J. Pearce. Shrops: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (11676 Pte. J. Pearce. Shrops: L.I.), good very fine (3)

Albert Edward Simcox was born at Bordesley, Birmingham and attested there with the 2nd Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry. Entering the war in France on 5 February 1915 he doubtless saw action at the Battle of Ypres where the Battalion saw bloody action on 25 and 28 April.

Simcox died of wounds on 9 May 1915, either the result of these first engagements at Ypres or the later action at Frezenburg Ridge which started on 8 May. The action followed the standard pattern for the time with a heavy artillery bombardment culminating in a massed infantry attack. Regardless Simcox was buried in Belgium at the Perth Cemetery (China Wall); sold together with copied research.

John Pearce was born at Aldford, Chester in 1892 son of James and Annie Pearce of Aldford Hall Cottage. He enlisted in 1914 and entered the war on 24 July 1915 with the 5th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Doubtless seeing heaving action throughout the war, Pearce was killed in action by shellfire while the Battalion was taking over their trenches north of the Menin Road.

The Chester Observer November 1917 quotes a letter from Pearce's commanding officer:

'A shell burst in the trench we were occupying and buried him, and when we dug him out we found him dead. On behalf of his comrades and myself. I offer you our sincere sympathy. We were able to bury him, and erect a small cross at a spot near by.'

Pearce is commemorated upon the Tyne Cot Memorial; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£80