Lot 37
A 1918 Ypres Salient Casualty Pair to the Essex Regiment. Awarded to Corporal Edward Rice, “A” Coy
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A 1918 Ypres Salient Casualty Pair to the Essex Regiment. Awarded to Corporal Edward Rice, “A” Coy, 11th (Service) Battalion Essex Regiment, who Died of Wounds in German Hands as a Prisoner of War on the 28th of March 1918, comprising 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (34744 A. Cpl. E. Rice. Essex R.), toned, very fine. (2).
Edward Rice was born in c.1897 in West Ham, Essex, the son of Richard and Lydia Rice of 14 Marcus Street. He enlisted for the Essex Regiment in West Ham and proceeded to join the 11th Battalion in France, being awarded a British War and Victory Medal.
He was found wounded by the Germans.
German Central Information Office List of 6th June 1918 is headed: The identification tags listed below are available from the Central Office for estates: Rice Nr.34744 Ex.’
German Central Information Office List of 18th June 1918 is headed: ‘The following accounts were received by the Central Office inheritance matters without further information:
Rice Edward Nr.34744, L/Cpl. A Coy. 11 Batt. Essex.’
These Lists come from the ICRC POW Records but he can’t have been prisoner for more than a few hours maybe, found grievously wounded.
One of the Soldier’s Effects Registers shows him dying of wounds in ‘Field Hosp, Sauchy Lestrée’.
A CWGC Concentration Report shows him exhumed from the German Communal Cemetery Extension in that village in September 1920 and reburied at Sains‑les‑Marquion, identified by ‘fragments of khaki, GS buttons, GB list and plan.’
The Battalion War Diary for March 1918 is alas very hard to read but included. Edward now lies in Plot 1 Row E Grave 7 of Ontario Cemetery, Sans‑Les‑Marquion. He was 21 years old when he died.
Sold with Copy Medal Index Card, Copy War Diaries, Copy Red Cross Paperwork, Copy Pension Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission information, including exhumation and reburial reports.
