The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals

Three: Lance-Sergeant R. W. Ranger, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, who was killed in action during the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (7126 L. Sjt. R. W. Ranger. S. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (7126 Cpl. R. W. Ranger. S. Gds.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Reginald William Ranger was born in 1893 at Bathampton, Somerset and attested for the Scots Guards at Devizes in July 1908. Having been appointed Lance Sergeant in April 1914, he served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 October 1914 and was killed in action near Ypres between 20 and 26 October 1914. The 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers had moved up to Kruiseecke, in the Ypres sector, under heavy shell-fire on 20 October before withdrawing later in the day to Zandvoorde. The following day they were in action around Hollebeke Chateaux and over the next few days, with the companies of the battalion becoming dispersed between Polygon Wood, and Kruiseecke, they suffered heavy casualties, with F Company in particular being heavily shelled on 24 October and most of the company being buried alive or taken prisoner. Severe losses were incurred again at Kruiseecke on 25 October as the battalion became surrounded and the survivors, numbering 12 officers and 460 other ranks, then retired to Hooge. Lance Sergeant Ranger’s date of death was deemed for official purposes to be 26 October 1914. He was the son of William and Susannah Ranger of 14 Southgate, Devizes and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.