The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals

Pair: Private A. G. Self, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who was killed in action at Elouges during the Retreat from Mons on 24 August 1914 British War and Victory Medals (8921 Pte. A. G. Self. Norf. R.) the first dark toned, good very fine (2) £80-£120 --- Albert George Self was born in 1894 at South Lopham, near Thetford, Norfolk and attested for the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, (Territorial Force) in 1911. He joined the 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, Army Special Reserve at Diss, Norfolk in January 1913 and attested for the Regular Army in June 1913, being posted to the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Following the outbreak of the Great War Self travelled to France with the 1st Battalion as part of the 15th Brigade, 5th Division in the original British Expeditionary Force, arriving at Havre on 16 August 1914. Having advanced to positions along the railway line south of the Mons Condé Canal on 23 August, his battalion was withdrawn to Dour on the 24th and later sent forward again to positions west of Elouges, with the battalion’s right on the Elouges-Quièvrain railway line and the 1st Cheshires occupying the ground west towards Audregnies. Attacked by a numerically superior enemy, Colonel Ballard ordered a retirement towards Bavai - an order which unfortunately failed to reach the Cheshires also under his command. The Norfolks lost 4 officers killed, 4 officers wounded and approximately 250 other ranks killed, wounded or missing but their short stand at Elouges and the sacrifice of the Cheshires had bought valuable time for the rest of the British Expeditionary Force during the retreat from Mons. Private Self was among those killed. He was the son of James Self of Church Street, Diss, Norfolk, and is commemorated at Elouge Communal Cemetery, France.