Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private A. E. Packer, 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916 - of the 650 other ranks from the Battalion that went over the top that day, just 50 ably answered the roll call that evening

1914 Star (6-555 Pte. A. E. Packer. 2/Middx: R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-555 Pte. A. E. Packer. Midd’x R.) the Star gilded, traces of verdigris, very fine (3) £300-£400

Arthur Ernest Packer was born on 16 December 1877, and served with the Plymouth Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry, from 4 June 1896 to September 1898. Subsequently attesting for the Middlesex Regiment, he served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 November 1914, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion, as part of the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division, was on the right of the Brigade’s attack up Mash Valley towards Ovillers. Only 1 of the 23 officers that moved forward at zero hour returned un-wounded and among the 650 other ranks that went over the top, just 50 ably answered the roll call that evening. Packer was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.