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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 154

A Great War Pair to Private M. Lloyd, Lancashire Fusiliers, Killed in Action, 28.3.1918, When his Battalion Heroically Repulsed Part of Ludendorff´s Spring Offensive North of Arras, Resulting in Most of Their Number Being Wiped Out and Second Lieutenant B.M. Cassidy 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers Being Awarded a Posthumous Victoria Cross for His Gallantry that Day British War and Victory Medals (45257 Pte. M. Lloyd. Lan. Fus.), good very fine (2) Estimate £ 100-140 45257 Private Matthew Lloyd, born Chadderton, Lancashire; served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on the Western Front, he was killed in action 28.3.1918; on the latter date the battalion were in action just north of Arras, attempting to repulse Ludendorff´´s Spring Offensive; on a day that the Germans claimed to have taken 70,000 prisoners, the Battalion War Diary entry gives, ´´3am enemy bombardment commenced, very heavy. Three separate barrages on front support and reserve lines and on the open between. Continued until 7am when the enemy launched a big attack. Front line held out until practically wiped out. "A" Company in close support to front line. Battalion was completely wiped out after a tremendous fight. The battalion stopped the enemy from advancing beyond the front and close support trenches´´; the Regimental History gives further incite into the heroics performed by Lloyd´´s battalion against the massed ranks of the German infantry, including that of Second Lieutenant B.M. Cassidy who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct that day, ´´It may without exaggeration be claimed that the failure of this fresh effort, to which the Germans attached such hopes that they carried six day´´s rations in their equipment, was due in no small measure to the magnificent fight put up by the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers... soon after 7am the German infantry attacked, wave after wave in close formation... there followed the most heroic fighting by "A" and "D" companies... their heroic self sacrifice; inspired and organised by Second Lieutenant Cassidy, unquestionably held up the whole German attack at this point and saved the left flank of the 4th Division from what might have been a disaster. This was the view of those in authority, for it was in those terms that the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to this very gallant officer was announced´´; Lloyd is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

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£190