British War Medal 1914-20 (2) (12874 WO Cl.2. A. J. Packer. R.E.; 3667 Spr. A. Brett. R.E.)...

British War Medal 1914-20 (2) (12874 WO Cl.2. A. J. Packer. R.E.; 3667 Spr. A. Brett. R.E.) minor edge nicks to first, nearly extremely fine and better (2) £80-£100 --- Arthur John Packer was born in Herne Bay, Kent, around 1879, and attested for the Royal Engineers at Canterbury on 3 August 1903. Appointed skilled electrician 14 February 1905, he was posted to India on 25 September 1916 and died from heat apoplexy on 29 May 1917 whilst serving as Quartermaster Sergeant (Establishment for Engineer Services). He is buried at Kababagh Railway Cemetery and his name is commemorated upon the Delhi Memorial. Confirmed as sole entitlement. Arthur Brett served with the 45th (Fortress) Company, Royal Engineers, and died at Gibraltar on 18 May 1916. His life was later chronicled in Known Unto God (Beverley and the Great War) by author B. S. Barnes: ‘He resided in Beverley and was born there in 1878. By the start of the Great War he had been on foreign service for a number of years, enlisting originally at Paull on the Humber. His father was an old soldier and had also served in the Royal Engineers. At the outbreak of war Arthur was transferred from the 15th Coy to the 45th Coy and was in charge of the regimental shoemaker’s shop at Malta. Arthur Brett was admitted to hospital on 11th May 1916 with swelling to the face, this developed into acute septicaemia and he died on 18th at the Military Hospital Europa. He was given a full military funeral and the whole of the 45th Coy turned out to pay their last respects, the procession started out from the hospital on the morning of 19th May, bearers lowered him down to his last resting place and the last post was sounded.’ Aged 38 years, Brett is remembered upon the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster and on the Beverley War Memorial at Hengate. Confirmed as sole entitlement.