Officer's War Medal & Victory Medal Pair
(1/8th Hampshire Regt)
(Isle of Wight Rifles),
Princess Beatrice's Battalion
To:
Reginal Duncan King (2.LIEUT. R. KING.) on both medals
KILLED IN ACTION at 2nd BATTLE of GAZA
19th April 1917.
NOTE: There are several "Lt R. KINGs" on the CWG site but as this pair was purchased locally within 5 miles of our office and of the late recipient's home, it's a fair bet that these are the medals of the stated officer in the 1/8th Hampshire Regt who was KILLED IN ACTION on 19th April 1917 and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial Panels 28/29.
Son of John & Harnet King and Husband of Mrs M.E. King of St Michael's LIMPSFIELD, Surrey .
HISTORY
(1/8TH Hampshire Regt)
The Brigade landed at Sulva Say on 10th August. Their first action was on the 12th August, and when the Battalion attacked at 4.50 pm their objective was Anafarta Ridge. Among the dead on this day was William Alfred Mayo, age 19, who is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.
From Gallipoli, the Isle of Wight Rifles sailed to Alexandria, where they replaced their losses and went into training near the Great pyramids. The C/O, Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes, was by then 47, and handed over command to a younger man to prepare for the advance into Palestine. In February 1917 the Rifles took twelve days to cross the Sinai Desert (145 miles) in full marching order. In March they were in reserve for the First Battle of Gaza. The Second Battle of Gaza began an 17th April 1917 with a heavy artillery barrage. The rifles advanced on Dumb Bell Hill and reached their objective with opposition. They held the crest of the Sheik Abbas Ridge until the morning of 19th April. Then, after two hours of preliminary bombardment, the whistles blew at 7.30 am. and the Isle of Wight Rifles went over the top.
The Second Baffle of Gaza was a costly failure. The attack in daylight across open ground against prepared positions gave the troops no chance, and it cost the Divisional Commander, General Murray, his job. The final toll for the Isle of Wight Rifles on April 19th 1917 was 8 officers and 186 men.
AN EMOTIVE PAIR TO A BRAVE OFFICER OF WORLD WAR 1
2/Lt King is commemorated with honour on
JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
Panel 28/29.
BOTH MEDALS "MINT STATE" WITH ORIGINAL RIBBONS
£475