A CLASSIC "CHRISTMAS TRUCE" 1914 Star & Bar (Casualty) Trio.
(With a Princess Mary 'Christmas 1914' Tin.)

To:
9502 Pte WILLIAM WIDGER 2nd Bn DEVON REGIMENT.

KILLED / DIED on "CHRISTMAS EVE" 24th DECEMBER 1914.

Medals to men "KILLED ON CHRISTMAS EVE" are some of the most iconic and desirable awards of the entire Great War.
They rest in parallel with medals to men who were killed on the First Day of the War, 23rd August 1914, The Battle of Jutland, 31st May 1916, First Day of the Somme, 1st July 1916 and the Last Day of the War, 11th November 1918.

Looking at the situation on the ground, it is thought that due to a momentary but fatal lapse of concentration, William Widger was hit and terminally wounded by a German sniper in the early daylight hours of 24th December and died within a very short time. His death being just a few hours before the famous Christmas Truce gathered pace.





His medal index card clearly and tellingly records "KILLED 24.12.14" (Rather than K.I.A.) which would be the norm for a formal battle casualty.

The War & Victory Medal Roll which was produced much later than the M.I.C. states 'Died of Wounds 24.12.14."

[THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE..AS SEEN BY A 2nd DEVONS MAN]
“In a letter to his brother at Barnstaple, Private H A Amy of the 2nd Devons at the front, also refers to the Christmas truce.

"On Christmas Eve," he says, "their officers told them not to shoot unless the Germans did, and not a shot was fired. The Germans were singing and shouting, ‘a merry Chrstmas to you’. As the day broke the enemy would be seen to bob up and down, and as the British did not fire they plucked up courage enough to get out of the trenches. Soon their parapets were lined and our chaps went out and met them and exchanged gift, cigarettes etc. Officers also fraternised. The Germans told them that the English had lost thirty warships and they had only lost two. It only showed that the Germans were being buoyed up with false hopes, and that when they learned the truth no doubt they would get a shock.”







A SUPERB & ICONICALLY DESIRABLE TRIO
With a Princess Mary 'Christmas 1914' Tin

SOLD