WW1. War medal. Taylor. Lancashire Fusiliers. KIA 1.7.1916, the first day of the Somme campaign. (Beaumont Hame)l.

British War Medal correctly impressed to 2968 Cpl R Taylor. 10-Hrs.

Robert Taylor was born in Alnwick, and enlisted at Gateshead. His Medal Index Card shows service with the 10th Hussars, (2968) 3rd Hants Regt. (16786) and the Lancashire Fusiliers (25000) with whom he was serving when he lost his life on 1.7.1916. He is entitled to a 1914 star (Served from 6.10.14) and a victory medal. CWGC shows that he is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial.

The attack on Beaumont Hamel from the Sunken Road
1st Bn The XXth The Lancashire Fusiliers-1st July-1916.

To the north of the river Ancre lay an important objective, the Grandcourt -Serre ridge.
This ridge was the goal of the V111 Corp in which the 1st and 2nd LFs were serving.
The Germans had protected the ridge with a formidable series of defences, amongst these was the heavily fortified village of Beaumont -Hamel.
On the 29th June the Divisional Commander Major General H.de.B.de Lisle addressed the main body of 1LF,this is what he said,
"To you has been set the most difficult task-that of breaking the hardest part of the enemies shell"
The Battalions objective was the village of Beaumont Hamel.
Between the Bn and their objective lay a sunken road which was chosen as the forming up point, the Bn would attack from here following a huge artillery barrage and a massive mine being detonated at the Hawthorn redoubt.
The setting off of the mine had the unfortunate side effect of alerting the Germans to the LFs formed up in the sunken road and they were subjected to a tremendous cross fire from the front and both sides.
Snipers were killing the wounded and those who tried to help them, the road became blocked with dead and dying.

The attack cost the Bn dearly,7 officers killed and 14 wounded, 156 Other ranks killed and 298 wounded with 11 missing presumed dead.

The medal is in toned GVF condition and is fitted with a replacement ribbon.