The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals

Family group:

Three: Acting Sergeant A. E. Luckett, 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who served in Gallipoli and was subsequently killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916
1914-15 Star (1912 Pte. A. E. Luckett. Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (1912 A. Sjt. A. E. Luckett. Lan. Fus.) nearly extremely fine

Three: Private P. H. Luckett, 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action during the Third Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli, on 4 June 1915
1914-15 Star (2071 Pte. P. H. Luckett. Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2071 Pte. P. H. Luckett. Lan. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (6) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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Arther Edward Luckett was born in 1891 at Camberwell, Middlesex, the son of William and Sarah Luckett of 11 Bedford Road, East Ham, Essex. He attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1909 and served with the 1st Battalion on Gallipoli from 25 April 1915 where they were engaged in actions at the Battles for Krithia and the Achi Baba heights. The battalion suffered casualties of 33 officers and 584 other ranks during the campaign before it was finally withdrawn to Egypt in January 1916. Embarked for France in March 1916, the battalion remained with the 86th Brigade, 29th Division on the Somme. Acting Sergeant Luckett was killed in action serving with F Company during the battalion’s attack on the heavily fortified village of Beaumont-Hamel on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

On 29 June the Divisional Commander Major General H. de .B. de Lisle had addressed the main body of the battalion and said, ‘to you has been set the most difficult task - that of breaking the hardest part of the enemies shell’. The battalion formed up at a sunken road part way towards their objective and began their assault following a huge artillery barrage and a massive mine being detonated at the Hawthorn redoubt. The setting off of the mine unfortunately alerted the Germans to the men formed up in the sunken road and subjected them to a tremendous cross fire from the front and both sides as they attacked.
On 1 July 1916, the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers suffered casualties of 7 officers killed and 14 wounded, 156 Other ranks killed and 298 wounded with 11 missing presumed dead. 4 Military Crosses and 8 Military Medals were won by the battalion that day.

Having no known grave, Acting Sergeant A. E. Luckett is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Percy Harold Luckett, younger brother of the above, was born in 1893 and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1910. He served with the 1st Battalion on Gallipoli from 25 April 1915 and was killed in action on 4 June 1915 during the Third Battle of Krithia.

The activities of the battalion that day can be summarised as follows:
‘British bombardment (4th) recorded as falling short and causing high casualties. Machine gun section put out of action. “A” and “B” Companies attacked in centre on Gully Spur 12 noon - heavy casualties from rifle and machine gun fire - most men hit while climbing parapet, few got forward not more than a few yards. “D” and “B’ Companies followed and also swept by fire. Major-General J. C. Latter, C.B.E., M.C. in his 1914-1918 history of the Lancashire Fusiliers records how Captain H. R. Clayton was killed while leading “D” Company, his body being found in the Turkish wire 2 months later. Relieved and to Pink House in reserve (6th). Casualties - 14 officers, 500 other ranks.’ (British Regiments at Gallipoli by Ray Westlake refers)

Private P. H. Luckett is buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

Sold together with the following items: 2 studio portrait photographs of either A. E. or P. H. Luckett in Lancashire Fusiliers uniform. A studio portrait photograph of either A. E. or P. H. Luckett in Lancashire Fusiliers uniform, together with a woman (likely to be elder sister, Emily); studio portrait photograph of a soldier in tropical uniform wearing Q.S.A. with 4 clasps. (likely the recipients’ father, William Luckett. A man of this name served with the 18th Bn. (Sharpshooters) Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War and received the Q.S.A. with 4 clasps.); a letter written by A. E. Luckett (B Company, 1st Lancs. Fus.) to younger brother David, sent from Napier Barracks, Karachi, India, dated 8 January 1914; a letter written by P. H. Luckett (1st Lancs. Fus. attached 1 H.L.I.) to younger brother David, sent from Ambala City, India, dated 1 January 1914; Record Office transmittal letters for all 3 medals awarded to P. H. Luckett; Record Office transmittal letters for 1914-15 Star and BWM awarded to A. E. Luckett; outer OHMS envelope for medals addressed to ‘Mrs J. J. Luckett, 11 Bedford Rd. East Ham, London.’