Beschreibung:

WWI KIA Pair awarded to Able Seaman Matthew Willis, 5th Nelson Battalion, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, killed in action at the Battle of Ancre, comprising: British War & Victory Medals, 1914-1919 (T.Z. 3580 M. Willis A.B. R.N.V.R.), pair officially impressed, medals loose. Unevenly toned, the second with some light verdigris to reverse, otherwise about very fine. (2) Able Seaman Matthew Willis was born on the 14th of April, 1896 in Woodlands, Doncaster. Having previously worked as a Miner, he enlisted for service with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) on the 16th of July, 1915, and was drafted for service in the MEF on the 1st of August 1915. He joined the Nelson Battalion on the 20th of August 1915, and whilst he appears to have missed out on service at Gallipoli, he was present with the RND at the time of their transfer to France for service in the latter stages of the Somme in May 1916, with the 189th Brigade. On the 7th of October, 1916, AS Willis was stationed with Nelson Battalion in front of the village of Hamel facing the river Ancre. In the very worst of conditions, suffering constant rain and freezing cold temperatures, trenches were dug and repaired under enemy fire in preparation for a major offensive. This came on the 13th of November, 1916, where having assembled the evening before and waited in all night in the rain, at ‘Zero Hour’ at 5.45am soldiers of the 63rd Division attacked through the dark and mist. Falling some way behind the creeping barrage, troops of the Nelson Battalion suffered heavy casualties (half their number) during an assault on ‘Station Road’ with bombs and bayonets, whilst facing German machine gun positions. It was on this day that Able Seaman Willis was killed in action, and he is remembered at the Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel. Sold with copy RND service details, copy casualty certificate, and some useful research.