A Most Magnificent and Complete Medal, Plaque and Document Assembly
to a Pre-War,18th and10th HUSSAR entrant.
Complete with all manner of wonderful original items and paperwork.
One of the finest individual collections we have ever been privilaged to offer.
1914-1915 Trio & Plaque
To:
11087. L/Cpl. WILFRED SANDERSON.
18th and late 10th HUSSARS.
(Entered France, 23rd August 1914)
&
KILLED IN ACTION
11th APRIL 1917
(Age 21)
'ARRAS'
At the 1st Battle of Bullecourt, during the famous action at,
MONCHY-LE-PREUX
where the10th HUSSARS & ESSEX YEOMANRY sustained many hundreds of casualties from German Machine Gun Fire on the main street.
At 08:30 on 11th April 1917 the Cavarly Brigade was ordered forward. Squadrons from 3rd Dragoons, Essex Yeomanry and 10th HUSSARS thundered forward at a gallop. They moved into the North of MONCHY and when moving down through the town and out on the main street toward Roeux they came under withering German Machine Gun Fire.
Lance Corporal Wilfred Sanderson of 10th Hussars was one of 25 Other ranks of the unit who were wiped out in this infamous action.
The associated Plaque and other items (even the original postal packet for the plaque is here) and all the papers with this important group are wonderfully preserved and complete. We here illustrate the various pieces which will be included in this sale.
THE ORIGINAL "REGISTERED MAIL POSTING BOXES, and Internal boxes and issue slips are all present.
THE "MARY" BRASS BOX is also here along with a rather unusual XVIII Hussars Tin Cigarette case. Here also is an envelope of 30th December 1914 which must have contained a letter home to his mother.
A RARE SELECTION OF REGIMENTAL GIFTS which were sent to the lads at the front by the old and senior ex-members of the 10th Hussars. Here we have a silk handkerchief sent at Christmas 1914, a lovely gold blocked and crested leather wallet for Christmas 1915, and a rather nice illustrated Military Diary for Christmas 1916. These items are ULTRA RARE and few are ever seen or offered for sale. We are fortunate indeed that these have survived at all, never mind in such fresh museum quality condition.
Here also are a selection of papers and an excellent picture of WILFRED SANDERSON in HUSSARS UNIFORM ....We even have two pairs of his original Spurs and his Soldiers' Small Book.
Here is his Medal Index Card showing that he "missed" a Mons Star by just one day as he has a theatre entry date of 23rd November 1914 ( the cut off day was the 22nd !! ).
A HEAD & SHOULDERS ENLARGEMENT OF FULL LENGTH PHOTO OF WILF' WHO GAVE HIS LIFE SO VALIANTLY ON 11th APRIL 1917. He is commemorated with honour at The Arras Memorial to the Missing (Bay1).
Wilfred Sanderson was from Darton near Barnsley. He joined the army (Initially to the 18th Hussars,) aged 18years and 5 months on 21st April 1914. He was the much loved son of Albert and Edith A. Sanderson of Co-operative Terrace, Mapplewell, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
I THINK YOU WILL AGREE THAT THIS A MOST WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO THE SOLDIER WHO'S LIFE IT COMMEMORATES.
Thank You Wilfred for going to that terrible war ...we will now see to it that you are never forgotten.
- "SOLD" -
Excessively Rare & Complete)
