WW1 1914 Mons Star with 5th August 1914 Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal all named to 10295 Pte M Huckle, 4th Royal Fusiliers and a WW2 Defence Medal. Along with his 1914 Princess Mary's Gift Tin.
Huckle served in the infamous battle of Nimy Bridge, the first action seen by the BEF during WW1, making this medal set EXTREMELY rare, especially with pictures.
WW1 1914 Mons Star with 5th August 1914 Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal all named to 10295 Pte M Huckle, 4/Royal Fusiliers and a WW2 Defence Medal.
Along with his 1914 Princess Mary's Gift Tin.
The Mons Star with the 5th Aug Clasp is a rare item.
Also included are photos of Mark taken in the 1970s. These show that he was also awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal from the Boer War - unfortunately the whereabouts of this Medal is unknown.
Medal ribbons are all original.
Supplied with copies of research materials
Private Mark Huckle (GS/32880, 10295, G/32889) 2nd / 4th Btn Royal Fusiliers
Born on 15th October 1882 in Islington, London to Arthur and Alice Huckle, he served in the Boer War 6th May 1901 to 2nd July 1902 with the 5th Militia battalion Royal Fusiliers, service number 10295, winning the Queen’s South Africa Medal and then extended his service on 17th March 1903 at Otley, Yorkshire.
His record shows that he earned the 1901 and 1902 clasps on the Queens South Africa medal.
The 1902 clasp was worn on the QSA when the recipient was not eligible for the King's South Africa Medal (KSA) which was awarded to those who were in the theatre on or after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 months service in the conflict prior to 1 June 1902. So it appears that Mark was not eligible for the KSA.
He served in the East Indies between 3rd Oct 1906 to 17th Jan 1912 with the 1st and 2nd battalions Royal Fusiliers. Before transferring to the Army Reserves.
The 1911 census shows him living in Islington London, serving with first the 1st & 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.
He was mobilised for WW1 on the 5th Aug 1914, as a member of the BEF, with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (not to be confused with the territorial city of London battalion), arriving in France on 13th Aug 1914 as the forward battalion of the 9th Brigade.
After a quick march he was then positioned just north of the Condé Canal, Mons and ordered to halt the German advance, eventually falling back to the bridge. This was the first action the BEF encountered in WW1, the infamous last stand on Nimy Bridge on the 23rd August 1914. This makes this medal set EXTREMELY rare. It was in this battle that the battalion sustained heavy casualties, with both Lt. Dease and Pte. Godley winning Victoria Crosses for their action manning the machine guns after repeated wounds.
After this the battalion retreated across France before fighting in The Battle of the Marne (6-10th September), Battle of the Aisne (12-15th September), First Battle of Ypres (October-November) before taking more sectional roles in the Neuve Chapelle/Festubert (March-May 1915) and Loos (September 1915) and Givenchy (December 1915).
He was then discharged on 27th March 1916 after serving his allotted time. However he extended his service length again on 18th July 1916, keeping in the Royal Fusiliers and given service number G/32889. However his service is then unclear.
The reason for the award of his WW2 Defence medal is unknown, but given his military experience and age at the start of WW2 (56) he was likely in the Home Guard.
