A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties

Pair: Private A. J. Packer, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (S-15099 Pte. A. J. Packer. Rif. Brig.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur John Packer) in card envelope, good very fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties.

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Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family.

Arthur John Packer was born in Westminster, Middlesex, and attested for the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) at Camberwell, Surrey, on 8 December 1915. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 May 1916, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on 1 July 1916.

On this date the Battalion, as part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, was ordered to attack Redan Ridge. Held up by fire from Ridge Redoubt and The Quadrilateral soon after leaving the trenches, they entered the German line by 10:00 a.m., and were involved in heavy close quarter fighting along the trenches. Driven back after a counter attack they retired to Mailly-Maillet, having suffered total casualties of 474.

Packer was amongst those killed, and is buried in Redan Ridge Cemetery, France.

Sold with named Record Office enclosure for the British War Medal; the recipient’s last letter home to his parents; and copied research.