A Fine Collection of of Great War Medals to the Rifle Brigade

Three: Second Lieutenant W. W. Wines, Rifle Brigade, a Third Ypres casualty

1914-15 Star (5952 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with original card boxes of issue, extremely fine (3) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of of Great War Medals to the Rifle Brigade.

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Walter Wheeler Wines was born at Cranford, Middlesex, educated at local schools and at Reading University College. He enlisted in the 19th (Public Schools) Bn. Royal Fusiliers in 1914 and served with them in France from November 1915. He trained for a commission at No. 5 Officer Cadet Bn., Trinity College, Cambridge, and was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade 5 September 1916. He joined the 8th (S) Bn. one month later, serving in “C” Company. He was Killed in Action by a shell on the Menin Road near Clapham Junction on 24 August 1917 whilst the battalion was marching up to reinforce the front line during the Third Battle of Ypres. Various officers in the battalion sent their condolences to his parents, including Major Sheepshanks who wrote: “He is a tremendous loss to the battalion, being quite the best of our younger officers… He was hit while gallantly leading his men into action through a very heavy barrage…” He was 22 years old, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.