Special Collections

Sold on 2 April 2004

1 part

.

The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons

Tim Parsons

Lot

№ 264

.

2 April 2004

Hammer Price:
£450

Three: Corporal T. W. Gabbott, Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion, who was killed in action near Villers-lez-Cagnicourt on 2 September 1918

1914-15 Star
(62 Pte., 2/Can. Div. Cyc.); British War and Victory Medals (62 Cpl., Can. Cyc. Bn.), with related Memorial Plaque (Thomas Worswick Gabbott) and Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., the reverse officially inscribed, ‘62 Cpl. T. W. Gabbott’, nearly extremely fine (5) £300-350

Thomas Worswick Gabbott was born at Chorley, Lancashaire in June 1886 and prior to emigrating to Canada worked for a local cabinet maker.

Enlisting in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in December 1914, he arrived in France in September 1915 and was posted to the Canadian Corps of Cyclists. Advanced to Corporal in January 1918, he was killed in action on 2 September 1918, official records stating:

‘Whilst with his Platoon receiving instructions from the Company Commander for an attack on enemy positions near Villers-lez-Cagnicourt, at about 12 o’clock at noon, on September 2nd 1918, he was instantly killed, together with two others, when a high explosive shell landed in the midst of the party.’

Gabbott was interred in Tigris Lane Cemetery, Wancourt; photographs of his headstone are included.