1914-15 Star (Pte. F. H. Somerset Kimberley Cdo.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. N. H....

1914-15 Star (Pte. F. H. Somerset Kimberley Cdo.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. N. H. Moore.) very fine and better (2) £80-£100 --- Francis Henry Somerset was born on 5 September 1882 and having emigrated to South Africa served briefly with French’s Scouts during the latter stages of the Boer War (entitled to a Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and South Africa 1901). He saw further service during the Great War, initially with the Kimberley Commando in German South West Africa in 1915, before proceeding to England as part of the 1st South African Brigade. He served with them in Egypt, and then, having been commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment, South African Infantry, saw further service on the Western Front. Somerset distinguished himself during the epic action at Delville Wood on 18 July 1916, and was praised in a letter written by Captain Richard Medlicott, commanding ‘B’ Company, 3rd Regiment: ‘The bombardment was intense all day, and our fellows and a platoon of the 4th Regiment dug themselves in. Suffering from want of food and water, and with the wounded impossible to get away, D Company retired without passing up any word, so did those on their left. My Orders were to hold on. I was on point of salient and furthest force pushed out. A and C Companies on my right not being dug in were scattered - 1 platoon of D Company under Second Lieutenant Somerset did well on my left. I used 4th Regiment in reserve trench as reinforcements. Ammunition scarce. Mud caused ammunition to be useless as rifles jammed with mud. No cleaning material - all consumed. Two guns, one Lewis and one Maxim knocked out. Our own field guns killed and wounded many of us. Difficulty owing to this to extend to my left. D Company retired when the attack came at probably 5pm or later; however, beat Germans off. Many killed seven yards from my trenches. Remnants of A and C Companies overpowered... I learnt this after heat of attack abated, with machine-guns enfilading us from my right. By passing up five rounds at a time from each man I kept machine-guns and one Lewis gun going sparingly and killed many Germans. I divided my front i.e. alternate men facing alternate fronts. Sent bombing party and patrol under officer to try and clear my right and get away to retire to Waterlot Farm or our old regimental headquarters.’ Somerset was subsequently killed during the Battle of Delville Wood, his date of death officially recorded as 20 July 1916, the day the Brogade was relieved. He is buried in Delville Wood Communal Cemetery, France. Sold with copied research. Norman Hope Moore was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, before transferring to the 3rd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, on 1 December 1908. Appointed Instructor of Musketry on 1 January 1909, he was mobilised on the outbreak of the Great War, and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from September 1914, commanding ‘A” Company for a short period. Wounded at the Battle of the Aisne, he was invalided home at the end of October 1914, during the first Battle of Ypres, and subsequently rejoined the 3rd Battalion, serving with them at home for the remainder of the War. He subsequently compiled the Battalion History, Records of the 3rd Battalion, the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, Formerly 6th West York Militia, 1760-1910’. He died on 8 March 1938. Sold with copied research.