A Scarce 1914-15 Star Casualty Trio.
To:
3088 Pte JOHN H.SEARLE .
1st/5th Bn SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS.
KILLED IN ACTION at GIVENCHY. 15th June 1915. Age 22.

From Watford. Commemorated on The Le Touret Memorial.

[THE TWO POSTHUMOUS MEDAL ISSUE LETTERS]
[BIOGRAPHY]
A classic FESTUBERT / GIVENCHY casualty trio. John Searle was born in 1893, the son of Mrs E.M.Searle & the late Mr W. Searle of 32 Liverpool Road, Watford. John landed in France on 1st May 1915 and his war was to be tragically short at a duration of only 6 weeks. He was lost without trace on the battle field at Givenchy and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.

[BATTLE OF FESTUBERT]
(The Second Action of Givenchy.15th June 1915)
15th June 1915 saw the men of the 5th & 6th Seaforths face their sternest test so far. South of the La Bassee Canal, the French launched a major attack with the Canadian 1st Division, and British 7th and 51st (Highland) Divisions attacking in support north of the canal; the Highlanders being at the extreme northern end of the attack.

The battalions of the 154th Brigade attacked as did a single company of the 5th Seaforths. This was "D" Company. The rest of the 5th Seaforths along with the 6th Seaforths, manned their parapets and opened rapid rifle fire on the German lines. The British artillery bombarded the enemy trenches all day but, shortly before the attack went in at 6 pm, the Germans retaliated and bombarded the British front line and communication trenches, forcing the occupants to shelter as best they could. The French attack was successful, as initially was that of the 154th Brigade who overran two lines of enemy trenches, but they were forced to retire due to a lack of ammunition and reserves. The 5th Seaforths suffered very badly in their advance and subsequent retirement, with half of the men of the attacking 'D' company becoming casualties. Although only involved in a supporting role the 6th Seaforth suffered many casualties from the enemy shellfire. Captain Alexander Ramsay was shot through the arm while watching the progress of the battle through his field glasses and Lieutenant Lyle Fraser had to take over command of his company – he was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for his leadership.

Positioned in the 'Canadian Orchard', 'D' Company suffered particularly from German mortars firing onto the parapet of the trench. The blast of these was sufficient to flatten sections of trench, blow men to bits or bury them in the debris, and Lieutenant Charles Fysh was reported as working with great courage under constant fire to dig out wounded men. The bombardment lasted three hours and a great deal of damage was done to the trenches.

The battalion suffered 140 casualties that day, 29 of them killed. In an article printed a few weeks later in the Elgin Courant an unnamed soldier from the 5th said that:
"It was the shrapnel that did the trick. The Germans were putting them over very neat, right on top of the trench every time. It is their trench mortars that are best though. You can see them coming just like a football, with a spike in it, through the air, and then they fall almost perpendicular. When they get a trench it is good-bye to about thirty yards of it".

Another soldier recorded his thoughts on a lucky escape saying:
"I cannot understand yet how I was not struck, as the foresight of my rifle was blown off, and the hand-guard split in two."

[HISTORY OF 1/5th SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS]
1/5th (The Sutherland & Caithness Highland) Battalion,Territorial Force.

04.08.1914
The 1/5th stationed at Golspie, Scotland. Part of the Seaforth & Cameron Brigade of the Highland Division and then moved to Bedford.
02.05.1915
Mobilised for war and landed in France where the formation became the 152nd Brigade of the 51st Division which engaged in various actions including;
During 1915
The Battle of Festubert, The Second Action of Givenchy
(It was here on the 15th June 1915 that John H. Searle lost his life) During 1916
The attacks on High Wood, The Battle of the Ancre.
During 1917
The First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, The capture and defence of Roeux, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Menin Road Ridge.
During 1918
The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck, Battles of the Marne, Second Battles of Arras, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle, a phase of the Final Advance in Picardy.
11.11.1918
Ended the war in France, Iwuy N.E. of Cambrai.

A very emotive group to a young man of only 22 who gave his life while in action with one of the classic Scots regiments.


Medals are Mint / Polished with the original ribbons.Also included are the two original posthumous medal issue letters, copy MIC & other CGW papers.

£395