Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private J. Beech, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was wounded in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, and was wounded and taken Prisoner of War at the Battle of Arras on 3 May 1917

1914-15 Star (R-1118 Pte. J. Beech. K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (R-1118 Pte. J. Beech. K.R. Rif. C.); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (James Beech); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse numbered ‘439070’, good very fine (5) £100-£140

James Beech was born in Birmingham on October 1895 and attested there for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 2 September 1914. He served with the 8th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1915, and was present at the Battle of Loos. He saw further service at the Battle of the Somme, and was wounded in action at Roclincourt on the first day of the Battle, 1 July 1916:
‘At 10:50pm, the Germans exploded a mine under the Battalion’s forward trenches (creating a crater 160 feet wide) and launched an attack supported by heavy artillery fire with 5.9's, 4.2's and trench mortars on the front and communication trenches. The Germans entered the front trenches and commenced to bomb their way forward but were “bombed out” of the trenches by the Battalion’s bombers and a battle developed over the mine crater lips. Breastworks were constructed in the shattered trenches and crater whilst this was going on, with the work parties building it under heavy machine gun and trench mortar fire. By dawn the position was defensible. Casualties were 8 other ranks killed, and 3 Officers and 25 other ranks wounded.’

Beech was again wounded (gun shot wound to the right arm) and taken prisoner of war at the Battle of Arras on 3 May 1917, on which date Battalion casualties were 10 Officers and 270 other ranks. Repatriated to England on 5 May 1918 he was admitted to the King George Hospital, London with his wound still being classified as severe. As a result of his wound, he was medically discharged on 12 August 1918 and was awarded a life disability pension at 30%, as well as receiving a Silver War Badge. He subsequently worked as a telephone mechanic, and was awarded his Imperial Service Medal on retirement in 1960.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.