FOUGHT MONS WW1 ‘WOUNDED IN ACTION’ 1914 STAR 7387 BEARD 1ST DORSETSHIRE MEDAL

Description

Offered is a 1914 Star, impressed named 7387 P^TE T. BEARD. DORSET:R. comes with copies M.I.C., medal rolls, war badge list and newspaper article.

Also entitled to August – November clasp, British War and Victory Medals.

Unfortunately, Private Thomas Beards service records did not survive the ‘Blitz’, however what is known is that he was a pre war regular who had enlisted with the 1^st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment 15/08/1904. At the outbreak of the war the Battalion was stationed in Belfast.

The 1st Dorsets landed at Le Havre on 16 August as part of the 15^th Brigade 5^th Division.  In Belgium the Battalion saw action at Mons on 23rd August and then formed part of the rearguard in the long British retreat.  On the move for 16 consecutive days, they marched 220 miles.  On 4th September the Dorsets reached the town of Gagny south of the River Marne and the retreat ended as the Allies managed to halt the German advance.  Two days later they turned to the offensive.

At some stage Beard was wounded as he is listed in a newspaper article from the Lincolnshire Echo 28 October 1914 as being wounded and admitted to the 2^nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds. He was subsequently discharged as a result of his wounds on the 24/2/1915.

Casualties for Mons 23/8/1914: Officers 4 WIA. Other Ranks (O.R.): 12 KIA, 49 WIA, 69 MIA.

26/8/1914: O.R.: 14 WIA, 21 MIA.

9/9/1914: Officers 4 WIA. OR: 7 KIA. 31 WIA, 4 MIA.

14/9/14: OR 1 KIA, 20 WIA.

15/9/1914: OR 1 KIA, 21 WIA, 4 MIA.