{"product_id":"ww1-victory-medal-single-medal-only-awarded-to-private-thomas-henry-grover-of-the-7th-bn-west-yorkshire-regiment-the-leeds-rifles-kia-opening-phase-first-24-hours-battle-of-the-somme","title":"WW1 Victory Medal (Single medal only) awarded to Private THOMAS HENRY GROVER of the 7th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, the ‘Leeds Rifles’ - KIA opening phase (first 24 hours) Battle of the Somme","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eStock Reference – MM-MED-0020\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWW1 Victory Medal (Single medal only) awarded to Private THOMAS HENRY GROVER of the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, the ‘Leeds Rifles’ - KIA opening phase (first 24 hours) Battle of the Somme \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eYou are looking at a single WW1 Victory Medal inscribed ‘'4445 PTE. T.H.GROVER. W.YORK.R.'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTHOMAS was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and his family the Memorial Plaque (Death Penny).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThomas was a rifleman with the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e\/7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion the West Yorkshire Regiment, the ‘Leeds Rifles’ and according to military records (Commonwealth War Graves Commission), he was killed in action on the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of July 1916, during the opening phase (first 24 hours) of the Battle of the Somme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;\"\u003eThe 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion, the ‘Leeds Rifles’ as they are referred to, were a territorial battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own). At the outbreak of war, the Battalion were in Carlton Barracks Leeds and after some local movement between camps, were deployed to France in the March of 1915, where they were part of the 146\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Infantry Brigade, the 49\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e (West Riding) Division. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAt 9am on the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e of July 1916, the start of the ‘Battle of the Somme’, the 1\/7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion were ordered to move to assembly trenches in Thiepval Wood, and at 3:30pm, the 146\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Infantry Brigade instructed the 5\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e and 6\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalions WYR to attack Thiepval Village, with the 8\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion in support and the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion in reserve. The 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Bn were then moved into assembly trenches in the vicinity of Belfast City in Thiepval Wood but immediately ordered to reinforce the British front line. Whilst reinforcing the front line as instructed, overnight 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e\/2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of July, C and D Companies of the 1\/7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e were ordered to assist the 36\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Division, whilst A and B Companies remained in position, before gradually withdrawing from the front-line trenches to an assembly point near to Gordon Castle. By 3:15 pm of the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of July, the 146\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Infantry Brigade were relieved by the 147\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e and 148\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Brigades.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAccording to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 28 year old Thomas GROVER died on the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of July, but it is clear from the 1\/7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion war diary, that the unit was heavily involved in the fighting in Thiepval Wood on the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e of July and overnight into the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e, and Thomas was likely killed during this continuing action, so the seller is satisfied that this soldier fits the criteria as a first 24 hours of the Battle of the Somme casualty……From an assessment of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, there are 12 soldiers from the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e\/7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion who are recorded as having died on the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e of July, and 20 soldiers who died on the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of July, and the majority are commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIt is also apparent that Thomas, although recorded as having died on the 2\u003csup\u003end \u003c\/sup\u003eof July according to the CWGC, was initially reported as missing, and he was listed as such within the ‘missing’ section of the Leeds Mercury Newspaper dated the 25\u003csup\u003eth \u003c\/sup\u003eof July 1916.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAccording to historical records, the first day of the Battle of the Somme resulted in 57470 casualties, with the Yorkshire regiments alone accounting for circa 9000 men killed, injured or reported missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eGeorge SANDERS of the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e\/7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the events of the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e\/2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of July, and an account of what he did gives you an idea as to what the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion were involved in. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eGEORGE SANDERS – Awarded Victoria Cross for his involvement 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Day of the Somme\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eGeorge enlisted for service on November 9th 1914 and was drafted to the 1\/7th Battalion, The Prince of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment-Leeds Rifles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eAfter spells of training at York and Gainsborough the battalion sailed for France and landed at Boulogne in April of 1915.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eT\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003ehe battalion spent the night of June 30th 1916 in support trenches in Aveluy Wood, across the river Ancre and directly behind the Ulster division who were massed in Thiepval Wood.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eAs documented earlier, the Ulstermen went over in the first wave and George Sanders with the West Yorks were ordered forward to support at 9.00 on July 1st. They moved forward to trenches at Belfast City in Thiepval Wood and were then pushed into the battle in support of the Ulster division against the formidable German strongpoint of the Schwaben Redoubt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eAmidst the confused scenes on the battlefield the West Yorks were withdrawn late in the day but George Sanders with around thirty men was left behind isolated after an assault on a section of the German line. He immediately set about organising their defence and bombing parties, all the while impressing on the men that his and their duty was to hold the position at all costs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThey continued to hold the position through the night and on the morning of the 2nd July drove off a German attack and managed to rescue some prisoners the enemy had captured. Throughout the second day they fought off a further two counter attacks and spent a second night in their isolated position. They were finally relieved early on the morning of the third day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eGeorge Sanders showed great courage, determination and leadership during their ordeal, finally returning to the British lines with nineteen men of his party.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eThey had been without food or water throughout, giving what they did have to the wounded on the first night in isolation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background: white; padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;\"\u003eCorporal George Sanders was invested with his Victoria Cross, by the King, at Buckingham Palace on November 18th 1916.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"padding-left: 80px;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThomas Henry GROVER, born 1888 at Bermondsey in London, was the son of Thomas and Madeline GROVER. In 1901 he was living with his parents in Leeds, and in 1911, he was employed as a railway carman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSELLER NOTE = Supporting documentation obtained and \/ or created during my research into this medal will be provided.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maddox Medals \u0026 Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54434456174938,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1013\/7180\/6042\/files\/IMG_4105.jpg?v=1784193988","url":"https:\/\/maddoxmedals.co.uk\/products\/ww1-victory-medal-single-medal-only-awarded-to-private-thomas-henry-grover-of-the-7th-bn-west-yorkshire-regiment-the-leeds-rifles-kia-opening-phase-first-24-hours-battle-of-the-somme","provider":"Maddox Medals \u0026 Militaria ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}