Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant E. Duerden, Royal Field Artillery, late 11th Hussars, who died of wounds received in action on 17 August 1917 whilst serving as a two-gun Section Commander of “A” Battery, 150th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. E. Duerden R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. Duerden); Memorial Plaque (Edgar Duerden) the plaque a little polished with soldered suspension loop to reverse, otherwise good very fine (4) £140-£180

Edgar Duerden was born at Blackburn, Lancashire, on 22 November 1891, and worked as a clerk in his local bank. Serving in France from 30 November 1915, the recipient’s obituary published in the Blackburn Times on 25 August 1917 offers further insight into his short life:
‘Lieutenant Edgar Duerden, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Duerden, 140 Revidge, died of wounds yesterday week. The official notification announcing his death was the first intimation received by his parents that their son had been wounded. Deceased officer, who was 25 years of age, was educated at Blackburn Grammar School. He joined the 11th Hussars as a private, in September, 1914, and remained with them in training for seven months. He then received a commission in the Blackburn Brigade of the County Palatine R.F.A., and had been in France since November, 1915, being gazetted full Lieutenant in the following November. Before joining the Army Lieutenant Duerden was a member of staff at the Darwen Branch of the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank. He was also a member of the east Lancashire Cricket Club, being a familiar figure on the tennis courts. The deceased officer was associated with St. John’s Church, with which place of worship the family had for some years been identified.’

A veteran of the Battle of the Somme, including the seven-day bombardment prior to the attack on 1 July 1916, Duerden and his comrades of 150th Brigade had also supported the Divisional attack which captured Montaubin and the fighting for Trones Wood. Promoted at around the time of the Battle of the Transloy Ridges, he had witnessed extensive action in his short career and survived considerable hardship during the bitterly cold winter of 1916-17. In action again at the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, his Battery relocated from Ypres to support the attack from Pilckem towards Langemarck in August 1917, and it was at this time that he was mortally wounded. Duerden is buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Sold with copied research, including a portrait photographic image of Duerden.