WW1 1914-15 Star Medal Trio and Memorial Plaque – L.Cpl. A.G. Plater, 12th Bn. Middlesex Regiment – K.I.A. 14/7/1916

A first world war Trones Wood casualty medal group awarded to G/2601Lance Corporal Alfred George Plater, 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, who was sadly killed in action on 14/7/1916 and is remembered at London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval. 

1914-15 Star named to G-2601. Pte. A.G. Plater. Middx. R. 
British War Medal named to G-2601 Pte. A.G. Plater. Midd’x R. 
WW1 Victory Medal named to G-2601 Pte. A.G. Plater. Midd’x R. 
Memorial Plaque (Death Penny) named to Alfred George Plater 

Killed in Action – 14th July 1916 

The medals are in good condition with good lengths of original silk ribbons. The plaque comes with out card envelope. 

Alfred George Plater was from Islington, Middlesex. 

He was reported as wounded and then missing on 14th July 1916. Later confirmed as killed in action. 

By 14th July 1916, the British Army on the Somme was ready to renew the offensive along a broad front stretching from Longueval to Bazentin-le-Petit, but in order to improve the chances of success it was vital to first capture Trones Wood, on the right of the British line, and prevent the enemy from using it to pour enfilade fire on the advancing troops. This task was given to 18th Division and on 13th July, 55 Brigade attacked but failed to capture the wood. On 14th July, at the same time that the main attack was launched, 54 Brigade made a last ditch attempt to take the Trones Wood. The 6th Northamptonshire Regiment and 12th Middlesex Regiment entered the wood in the early hours but the tangled undergrowth and fallen trees meant that they soon lost direction and purpose. It was not until the redoubtable Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell arrived on the scene that progress was made. Gathering together what men he could find her organised them into a straight line stretching across the wood and then ordered a steady advance as if they were beaters on a pheasant shoot. Firing their rifles as they made their way forward, they overcame German strongpoints and cleared Trones Wood of the enemy and then manned its eastern edge to protect the flank of 9th Division as they attacked Longueval. This success did not come without a cost. Both battalions and 11th Royal Fusiliers who were in support, suffered a number of casualties, one of whom was Alfred George Plater. 

Comes with research.