Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Victory Medal 1914-19 (23695 Pte. W. Heslop. Durh. L.I.) good very fine £120-£160

William Heslop was born in Felling, Co. Durham, and attested for the Durham Light Infantry at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He served with the 15th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 September 1915, and was killed in action on 1 June 1916, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack at Buire: crossing 200 yards of No Man’s Land into the German first line, the Battalion moved forward into the sunken Fricourt-Contalmaison Road. Crucifix Trench was taken by 8:30 a.m., and attacks on shelter Wood continued during the afternoon. Relieved the following day, the Battalion suffered a total of 388 casualties.

Heslop was among those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.