The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals

Pair: Private H. F. Blackwell, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, who died of wounds in France on 14 August 1918 British War and Victory Medals (401308 Pte. H. F. Blackwell. Essex R.) with flattened named card box of issue and transmittal slip; Memorial Plaque (Harold Fred Blackwell) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card envelope with O.H.M.S. outer envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs E. Blackwell, 23 Craigdale Rd, Romford, Essex.’, extremely fine (3) £140-£180 --- Harold Fred Blackwell was born in 1879 at Dulverton, Somerset and was a tailor shopkeeper by occupation, residing in Romford. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front and died of wounds in France on 14 August 1918 at the 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, France, having suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm which necessitated amputation. He was the son of Fred and Elizabeth Blackwell, of Alcombe, Somerset and husband of Eleanor Blackwell, of 23, Craigdale Rd., Romford, Essex, and is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. Sold together with 3 Post Office Telegraphs sent to the recipient’s wife, communicating the grave condition and subsequent death of her husband; Army Form B.104-80, dated 15 August 1918, addressed to the recipient’s wife regarding condition of her husband and denying permission to visit; Army Form B.104-82, addressed to the recipient’s wife communicating the death of her husband; the recipient’s Army Book 136 with much content; 2 Field Service Postcards sent by the recipient to his wife, dated May 1918; illustrated booklet advertising the recipient’s business ‘H. F. Blackwell, High-class Tailor, 62 South Street, Romford’; the recipient’s leather bound London and Provincial Bank Ltd. Bank Book; and a further quantity of ephemera.