Description

Offered is a 1914 Prisoner of War medal set to Private R. Nobles, ‘B’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), who was a member of the first draft to the Regiment in 1914, taken prisoner in October 1914 at the 1st battle of Ypres

1914 Star, impressed named 11866 PTE R. NOBLES. 2/NOTTS & DERBY:R. with copy clasp affixed to ribbon: British War and Victory Medals (1914 – 18), impressed named 11866 PTE.R. NOBLES. NOTTS & DERBY. R. Court mounted for display with copies of M.I.C., medal rolls, P.O.W. records, war diary extracts, officers P.O.W. report, and newspaper articles including picture.

Richard Nobles was born on Christmas Day 1892 and was a pre-war regular who enlisted in 1911/12. This is based on his service #11866. (11567 joined on 6/3/1911 & 11897 joined on 13/6/1912).

The battalion was stationed in Sheffield at the outbreak of the war and departed from Southampton on 8/9/1914, but were unable to landed in France until the 11th due to bad weather. They were part of the 18th Brigade 6th Division.

The German P.O.W. records indicate that he was captured on 20/11/1914 and was in ‘B’ Company, however the battalion war diary records no losses on this day or the proceeding days. It is believed that he was taken P.O.W. on the 20/10/1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. On this day the battalion was practically destroyed, the war diary records the loss of 3 officers and 710 men missing. The 6th Division history records:

‘At Ennetières, which formed rather a salient, the Sherwood Foresters held out all day, but were attacked at dusk by three battalions and practically annihilated or captured, only the CO., Adjutant, Q.M. and 250 other ranks remaining the next day.’

He was initially reported missing, however he was later recorded as a P.O.W.