In the February sale we have several militaria lots from World War I era, including trench art, Labour Corp Medals and a Service Certificate.
Lot 281 features collectables relating to William Arthur Jackson. William, or 'Uncle Bill' as he was known to his family enlisted with the Northamptonshire Regiment in November 1919. Included within the lot is William's Certificate of Service, which gives a fascinating insight into the journey a soldier takes through their military career.
Also included within the lot are two medals awarded to J Whymer of the Labour Corp. The Labour Corps were founded in January 1917, and were manned by drafting in colonial troups from around the world. The Labour Corps were often on the front line, building trenches and putting in place the infrastructure for the main body of the army to advance.
The collection is being sold by a private vendor who stated: "Bill was my husband's uncle. Sadly, none of Bill's family is still alive today so I'm unable to pass them on to someone who cares about the history behind the collection. I'd rather they go to someone who can appreciate the heritage and stories of WWI veterans."
Also within the sale is Lot 346, two decorative WWI shell casings with trench art. The shells feature the military crest for the Sherwood Foresters of Notts & Derby; a regiment that is still known today as the Mercian Regiment. The casings are decorated with leaves, flowers and the words 'Souvenir of Great War, Aug 4 1914, Nov 11 1918'.