Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Sergeant W. S. Headrick, 17th (3rd Glasgow Commercials) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, later Second Lieutenant, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), who was severely wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916
1914-15 Star (15954 Sjt. W. S. Headrick. High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (15954 Sjt. W. S. Headrick. High. L.I.); together with a Cameronians cap badge, nearly extremely fine

Pair: Private J. Headrick, Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry
British War and Victory Medals (3206 Pte. J. Headrick. Q.O.R. Glasgow Y.); together with a Glasgow Yeomanry cap badge, staining to VM, nearly extremely fine (5) £160-£200

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Highland Light Infantry.

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Collection

Dix Noonan Webb, April 2001.

William Smith Headrick was born in Blythswood, Glasgow, on 12 December 1889 and was by trade a shipping clerk. He attested for the Highland Light Infantry on 16 September 1914, and having been promoted Corporal on 6 October 1914, and Sergeant on 18 December 1914, he served with the 17th (3rd Glasgow Commercials) during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 November 1915. He was severely wounded in the chest on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916; on this date the battalion was tasked with capturing part of the Liepzig Salient. They quickly achieved their objective, and then moved on towards the Hindenburg Trench but heavy fire from the Wonder Work brought the assault to a standstill, and had to withdraw to Crucifix Corner, suffering a total of 469 casualties.

Recovering, Headrick was subsequently commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), on 1 March 1917. Posted to India, he subsequently joined the 18th Special Service Battalion, before resigning his commission on 20 November 1920.