A Unique "Double Casualty" Combination of Two 1914 Star & Bar groups to "Old Contemptible" Comrades in Arms.

Both men Killed-in-Action on the same day, Sunday 9th May 1915 at BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE with 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

[INTRODUCTION]
When we recently purchased these two groups we realised that the two Royal Sussex lads represented here were both killed on the same day during the BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE. 9th May 1915.

Amazingly....the QSA, the 1914 Star & the War Medal to Private William Vine were all miraculously married up from separate sources by our supplying client....the Victory medal is sadly still absent, but is a minor factor when you see what's on offer here. As a tribute in this armistice 100th anniversary year of 2018, we have decided to keep these two lads medals together in remembrance of the sacrifices made by them and all their many fellows of 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regt who gave so much in the Great War, particularly on that dreadful early summer Sunday in 1915.

"LEST WE FORGET THE TRUE COST OF OUR FREEDOM"








[6171 Pte WILLIAM VINE ]

Pte William Vine had previously fought with 2nd Royal Sussex (Mounted Infantry) in the Boer War and his group comprises:

QSA:6171. Pte W. VINE. R. SUSS: R. M.I.
(Transvaal)-(Orange Free State)-(South Africa 1901)-(South Africa 1902).
1914 Star & Bar: 6171 Pte W.VINE.2/R. SUSS.R.
War Medal:L-6171 Pte W. VINE. R.SUSS.R.
Victory:BLANK.








[7928 Pte GEORGE ROBERT NUTTMAN]

1914 Star & Bar: 7928. Pte G. NUTTMAN 2/R. SUSS.R.
War Medal: 7928 Pte G. NUTTMAN R.SUSS.R.
Victory: 7928 Pte G. NUTTMAN R.SUSS.R

Private NUTTMAN was from St-Leonard's-on-Sea. Born in 1882 he was the son of William Richard & Anne Mawbury Nuttman of 106 Bexhill Road. He enlisted in Hastings.




BOTH MEN WERE KILLED IN ACTION, 9th MAY 1915.
THE BATTLE OF AUBERS RIDGE.

[THE HISTORY of BATTLE of AUBERS RIDGE, 9th MAY 1915]
(2nd Bn The Royal Sussex Regiment)

The Battle of Aubers Ridge, Sunday 9th May 1915 was the worst day for 2nd Royal Sussex Regt during the Great War. The War Diary records 14 officers and 548 other ranks as casualties from an initial strength of some 850 men.

Of those, 268 were listed as killed but there are more names can be added. All together 93% of those killed were lost without trace and are commemorated on Le Touret Memorial.

[THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND]
The unit covered a 400 yd front to the left of a position known as the 'Cinder Track' at Richebourg L'Avoue. This was the same area in which Lowther's Lambs, Royal Sussex 'Pals' were to be slaughtered on 30th June 1916 at the Battle of Boar's Head.

On the early Sunday morning at 03:30am, Tea and Rum were given to the men. The German trenches were only 300 yards distant and at 05:00am the bombardment began with intensified fire commencing at 05:30am.

Two platoons of C Company were on the right and two platoons of D Coy were on the left. All these men scrambled over the parapet, followed by the second wave of the remaining platoons.

The plan was to reform midway across no-man's-land and then to assault the German positions when the barrage lifted at 05:40. This was to be followed up by A Coy on the right and B Coy on the left, but many had already succumbed to German sniper, rifle and machine gun fire. The Germans had been alerted to the attack by the barrage and by their lookouts and were thus laying in wait for the inevitable British advance. Under the withering enemy fire some men reached positions within 40 yds of the German line but found the German wire unbroken and their defences intact.

Enfilading machine gun fire claimed many men who died while stuck on the wire. The situation became especially bad when the Munsters withdrew and exposed their flank. The war diary mentions just one man reaching the enemy parapet.

At 06:30am the order to withdraw was given but by that time many of the wounded who were laying out in no man's land were trapped and unable to move for many hours until nightfall.

At 19:30 the 2nd Bn survivors marched to Les Choquaux where roll call indicated:
Officers: 2 Killed in Action, 9 wounded, 3 missing.
Other Ranks: 101 Killed in Action, 329 wounded, 118 missing.

As was normal, the missing men would inevitably add to the killed and wounded. The 2nd Royal Sussex had previously suffered very heavy losses in 1914, particularly at the Battle of the Aisne 14th Sept and at the 1st Battle of Ypres 30/31st October 1914 where the Germans dubbed it the 'Iron Regiment' for standing so fast under withering fire. The Battle of Aubers Ridge would see the loss of many of its few remaining pre-war Regulars which were depleted even further at Loos on 25th September.

Today, The Battle of Aubers Ridge, like so many of the actions of 1915 is a forgotten event and is just officially considered as "a serious disappointment". Many units were destroyed in this area and 2nd Royal Sussex, must not be forgotten.

At this time, 103 years ago, they had taken over the Black Watch in the front line ready for the following day. This was to be the last evening many would have.


AN EMOTIVE "DOUBLE CASUALTY" ASSEMBLY.



ALL MEDALS ARE SUPERB EF+ WITH MINT RIBBONS.
A REAL "MUST HAVE" ADDITION TO A COLLECTION OF SUPERB WW1 CASUALTY MEDALS

£1295