The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

The Q.S.A. awarded to Private A. V. Strike, 1st Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteer Brigade and City of London Imperial Volunteers, who was killed in action on 13 November 1916, at the Battle of the Ancre, whilst serving with the 17th (1st Football) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (D97 Pte. A. V. Strike, C.I.V.) nearly extremely fine £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: Spink, March 1966.

Archibald Victor Strike was born in Islington, Middlesex on 11 October 1879, and was a printing works compositor by occupation. Already a volunteer with the the 1st Tower Hamlets Rifles, he served during the Boer War with their detachment of eleven men in the draft of reinforcements for the City Imperial Volunteers, sailing for South Africa in July 1900.

During the Great War, Strike served in the rank of Sergeant with the 17th (1st Football) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on the Western Front from 17 November 1915 and was killed in action on 13 November 1916, on which date his battalion were engaged in the opening day of the Battle of the Ancre. He is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

The 17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was formed as a Pals battalion during the Great War. The core of the battalion was a group of professional footballers, which was the reason for its most commonly used name, The Football Battalion.