Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War medals to Major C. A. Acton, 9th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the first day of the battle of Loos

1914-15 Star (Major C. A. Acton, R.W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Major C. A. Acton) together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Charles Annesley Acton) and illuminated Memorial Scroll (Capt. Charles Annesley Acton 9 R. Welsh Fus.) extremely fine £500-600

Captain (Temporary Major) Charles Annesley Acton was killed in action on 25 September 1915 at the battle of Loos. He was the second son of the late Colonel Ball-Acton, C.B., and was High Sheriff for County Wicklow, 1913, and a J.P. He was born at Peshawar, India, on 14 February 1876, and educated at Rugby, Oxford Military College, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 5 September 1896, and promoted Lieutenant, 16 December 1898. He served in Malta, Crete, Egypt, India, and in the China campaign (Medal), being appointed Staff Captain at Wei-hei-Wei, from 14 April 1900 to 2 June 1901. He succeeded his uncle in the family estates on 25 August 1908, when he discarded the name of Ball. He retired from the army the same year. On the outbreak of war, having offered his services to the War Office, he was gazetted Captain in the Reserve of Officers, and rejoined his old regiment, 7 September 1914. Promoted Temporary Major on 19 July 1915, he went to France the same day, and was killed in action, near Givenchy, the first day of the general advance, 25 September 1915, while helping a wounded soldier. For related family awards see Lots 408, 409 and 410.