Special Collections

Sold on 5 December 2018

1 part

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Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset

Rob Campbell

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Lot

№ 698

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6 December 2018

Hammer Price:
£420

Pair: Second Lieutenant A. H. Nelson-Wright, 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, killed in action on the Western Front, 2 September 1918 - aged 19, and just 11 days after joining the Battalion on the front line

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. A. H. N. Wright.); Memorial Plaque (Aislabie Harcourt Nelson Wright), last in card envelope of issue, nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£300

Aislabie Harcourt Nelson-Wright was born in Kew, London, in May 1899, and was the son of H. Nelson-Wright, a District Judge of the Indian Civil Service, whose residence was Firwood, Clevedon. Nelson-Wright was educated at Eton and Sandhurst, and commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry, 23 April 1918. He served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 23 August 1918.

Second Lieutenant Nelson-Wright was killed in action, 2 September 1918, aged 19. On the latter date the Battalion was serving as part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, during the attack on the Drocourt-Quéant Line:

‘At 11.45pm, on September 1st, the Battalion marched off to a position of assembly in P13 central, guides having been previously sent on ahead to reconnoitre the route. It arrived in position at 2.30 am on the 2nd, and at once proceeded to dig in.

Almost immediately and before the men had obtained cover, a heavy burst of shelling took place, and some twenty casualties were sustained.

Sec.-Lieut. A. M. [sic] Wright was killed, and Lieut. F. J. Clark wounded.’ (Regimental History refers).

Second Lieutenant Nelson-Wright is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.

Sold with copied research.