Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (5) (51811 Pte. W. Marshall. Linc. R.; 28742 Pte. A. J. Rawlings. Bord. R.; 51874 Pte. R. J. Anderton. Manch. R.; 31705 Pte. J. W. Ogden. N. Staff. R.; 50155 Pte. J. Alford. H.L.I.) generally very fine and better (5) £140-£180

Wilfred Marshall attested for the Lincolnshire Regiment at Alfreton, Derbyshire, and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front post-1916. He was killed in action on 23 October 1918, and is buried in Vendegies-au-Bois British Cemetery, France.

Alfred John Rawlings was born in Burnham, Somerset, and attested originally for the Army Service Corps at Park Royal Middlesex. Transferring first to the Lancashire Fusiliers, and then to the Border Regiment, he served with the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front post-1916. He was killed in action on 11 April 1918: on this date the Battalion managed to advance with considerable threat and power, breaking through and forcing another retreat. Orders followed to withdraw to new lines, which was completed by the morning of 12 April. The period 11-12 April holds particular interest, as this is the instance the 1st Battalion Border Regiment won its third Victoria Cross, the recipient being Captain (Acting Lieutenant Colonel) J. R. Forbes-Robertson D.S.O. M.C.: ‘On April 11–12, 1918, during a desperate German advance, Forbes-Robertson made rapid recognitions on horseback under heavy fire. He organised and led counter-attacks that saved the British line from breaking on four separate occasions, continuing on foot even after two of his horses were shot out from under him.’
Rawlings has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

Robert John Anderton was born in Prescot, Lancashire, and attested for the Manchester Regiment at Oldham, Lancashire. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front post-1916, and was killed in action on 15 March 1918. He is buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, Belgium.

John William Ogden was born in Jarrow, County Durham, and attested there for the North Staffordshire Regiment. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front post-1916, before transferring to the 2/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and was killed in action on 3 December 1917, during the German counter attack during the battle of La Vacquerie. On that day the 2nd/5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment lost 44 men killed, or missing. The battle of La Vacquerie was a critical, high casualty sector of the November 1917 Battle of Cambrai, where the British 20th and 29th divisions captured key German Hindenburg line positions, including Welsh Ridge. After initial successes German counter attacks in early December 1917 forced a British withdrawal from the village. La Vacquerie was vital for protecting the southern flank of the British advance, particularly for the 51st Highland Division, operating near Flasquieres.
Ogden has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, France.

James Alford served with the 1/5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front, before transferring to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. For his gallantry during the Great War he was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 11 February 1919).