Boer and Great War Tribute Medals from the James N Spencer Collection

Parish of Great & Little Unsworth (Durham) Tribute Cross, obverse: crossed pick and shovel, ‘Parish of Great & Little Unsworth, For Services in the War 1914-1918’; reverse inscribed, Alex J. B. Begg’, 35 x 35, silver and enamel, hallmarks for Birmingham 1919, some enamel damage, good very fine £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Boer and Great War Tribute Medals from the James N Spencer Collection.

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Ex D.N.W. 29 March 2000, lot 290.

Lieutenant Alexander James Bartlett Begg was awarded the M.C. London Gazette 4 June 1917. He was killed in action France and Flanders 21 March 1918 whilst serving with the 22nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.

‘Statement of Private P. W. Moore: On the 21st March 1918 at about 11am I was in the front line trench (Golliwog trench) about 1 mile N. of Bullicourt. The Germans were attacking. I was under the command of Lieut. Begg and was actually standing next to him whilst he was sniping at the advancing enemy. He was shot through the head by an enemy bullet which entered his temple.....’ (Taken from his P.R.O. correspondence file).