MILITARY MEDAL (Killed in Action) Somme
To: 16757. Pte. William Peat. 12/ DURHAM L.I
A very emotive award to an interseting man in a highly collected regiment.
( Pte Peat is also entitled to a 1915 Star Trio)
William Peat was the Son of Mrs Mary Jane Peat of 19, Uppingham St, West Hartlepool. Like so many lads he joined the army in late 1914 in response to Kitchener's recruiting poster, "Your Country Needs You" . He signed up on 4th September 1914.
He was a labourer and we think he lied about his age to be allowed into the Army. His attestation papers seem to show an age of 17 years and 10 months but we feel this may be incorrect. Further research will no doubt give the full story. In any case Private Peat was clearly a bit of a character which is generally the way with men who eventually won gallantry awards.
He had only been in the Army for 8 weeks and he is seen on 7th November 1914 being "Drunk and causing a disturbance" for which he received 4 days confined to camp. Seven weeks later he again appears on a charge sheet on 1st January 1915 for "Grossly improper conduct in the streets when on pass". Clearly it was New Years Eve 1915 and it looks like Pte Peat was again intent on having a good time before he got much older. For this breach of KRs he received 10 days confined to barracks and four days deprivation of pay (which was a total of 4/- for a private). Finally on 15th February he is again in hot water for "not complying with an order" for which he received 6 days confined to camp!
Clearly he got the message to behave himself as he is not seen on the charge sheets again before the unit left England for France. He and his unit landed at Boulogne on 26 August 1915. He was appointed (Unpaid) Lance Corporal on 4th August 1916. On 8th August 1916 while fighting at Poziers he won his MILITARY MEDAL.
Strangley on 12th September 1916 he was reduced, at his own request, back to Private.......and sadly on 24th October 1916 he was KILLED IN ACTION. (at a place described as "Martin Puich" which we cannot locate.)
This fine man's medal comes with copy service papers and a photo copy of a letter from his sister on behalf of his sick mother asking for any awards and effects to be sent to her in West Hartlepool.
A FINE AWARD TO A FINE YOUNG SOLDIER
("officially" aged only 19 at most) .
-SOLD- £895.00