Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: 2nd Lieutenant P. J. Posener, Wiltshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Somme in July 1916 during in one of his Regiment’s most famous actions of the War
1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. P. J. Posener, Wilts. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. P. J. Posener), good very fine and better (3) £350-400

Percy Julian Posener, who was born to Jewish parents in London in August 1876, was commissioned in the 8th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, in May 1915 having, according to his application for a commission, served as an ‘unattached member of the Mashonaland Field Force through the Mashonaland Rebellion 1897’.

Embarked for France in November 1915, he served on attachment to the 2nd Battalion up until his death in action at Trones Wood on the Somme on 8 July 1916, when many acts of great gallantry took place - the Battalion’s C.O., Colonel R. M. T. Gillson, though wounded early in the assault, lay out in the open and continued to direct operations, while his men held off strong counter-attacks in the north end of the Wood.

All in all, two D.S.Os, six M.Cs, four D.C.Ms and eight M.Ms were won that day, in addition to several Russian and Italian decorations, and post-war the action was commemorated each year by the Wiltshires on ‘Trones Wood Day’.

Posener is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, his original grave in Bernafay Wood having been destroyed in subsequent actions. He was 41 years of age and left a widow, Beatrice Maud Posener of 3 Canfield House, Finchley Road, London, who was awarded an annual pension of £100; sold with a large quantity of research, including copied correspondence between his widow and the authorities.