A Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties, Part 2

A well-documented pair awarded to Private G. Naylor, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), who was killed in action on the Western Front on 3 May 1917 British War Meal 1914-20 (38434 Pte. G. Navlor [sic]. W. York. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (38434 Pte. G. Naylor. W. York. R.); Memorial Plaque (Guy Naylor) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, extremely fine (3) £180-£220 --- Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family. Guy Naylor was born in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, and attested there for the Prince of Wales’s Own West Yorkshire Regiment on 26 October 1916. He served with the 15th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 January 1917, and was posted Missing, presumed killed in action on 3 May 1917. A letter from his Commanding Officer states: ‘Private Naylor took part in the attack on the German positions east of Gavrelle on 3 May, and went gallantly forward with his platoon. When the Battalion was mustered after the fight, I much regret to say that he was Missing. You have my deepest sympathy in your anxiety, and we all grieve to have lost a good comrade and brave soldier.’ The battalion suffered 4 Officers and 15 other ranks killed, 122 other ranks wounded, and 8 Officers and 262 other ranks missing on that date. Naylor has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. Sold together with the recipient’s cap badge; named Record Office enclosures for both medals; various original hand-written letters to the recipient’s wife, both from the recipient prior to his death, and by others after his death; three silk pocket squares, one woven with the West Yorkshire Regimental crest; two portrait photographs of the recipient, one housed in a contemporary metal glazed frame with ‘Union Flag’ surround; various newspaper cuttings; and copied research.