583. A FIRST WORLD WAR PAIR, SCROLL AND FRAMED PLAQUE TO A CASUALTY FROM THE YORK REGIMENT WHO WAS KILLED ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME.

A Great War pair comprising War Medal and Victory medal named to 23517 Pte J.A Jefferson York R. Mememorial scroll mounted in the arch above a memorial card in a plaster surround decorated with a memorial flanked by two soldiers, in an oak frame, 55cm x 45cm (without plaque mount added). John A. Jefferson was born in Scarborough and enlisted at Leeds, he married his wife Kate on the 11th September 1909, at which time he worked as a tailor and lived at 2B Ewart Street. He died on the 1st of July 1917 whilst fighting with the 7th Battalion of the Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment). The battalion assembled in trenches opposite Fricourt village zero hour was 2.30 pm, the artillery bombardment was described as 'feeble' and did little damage to the enemy as Jefferson and his colleagues discovered to their cost. The defensive fire was described as 'murderous' 'Officers and men were literally mown down and were finally brought to a standstill about half way across the enemy's trenches. 13 officers and over 300 men became casualties in about three minutes. Jefferson is buried at Fricourt cemetery, only a short distance from where he fell. he was 34 years old. The recipients memorial scroll framed and glazed in an oak frame, maximum dimensions 46.5 x 37cm. Sold with a quantity of photographs, original documents and photocopied research.