Description
A, Twice Wounded, Norfolk Regiment Victory Medal awarded to Private William James Ealey, 9th (Service) Battalion Norfolk Regiment comprising 1914-1919 Victory Medal (13902 Pte. W.J. Ealey. Norf. R.), fine.
Private William James Ealey landed in France with the 9th Battalion the Norfolk Regiment on the 7th of October 1915. The 9th (Service) Battalion were involved in the actions on the Somme from August 1916 attacking the Quadrilateral on the 15th of September of that year and suffering 431 casualties on that day. They attacked Mild Trench on the 18th of October 1916 suffering a further 248 Casualties during this attack, (Battalions on the Somme – by Ray Westlake – refers), the Battalion then moved to the Bethune Sector and Private Ealy appears in the Casualty Rolls as wounded on the 9th of November 1916.
He next appears on the Casualty List as wounded on the 20th of December 1917, the Battalion attack on the Hindenburg line, namely Kiser Trench and Kiser Support, on the 1st Day of the Battle of Cambrai.
The Battalion attacked Ribecourt Village, they had lain out in No Man’s Land most of the night and attacked at 06.20 with Tank Support. The War Diary gives an amazing and truly thrilling account of the attack in which Private Ealey was wounded, by 9am the village, with the help of the Tanks, had been captured. Private Ealey is noted in the 9th Battalion War Dairy as wounded on the 20th of November.
He was discharged, Wounded, on the on the 15th of August 1918 with Silver War Badge 442282.
Sold with Copy Medal Index Card, Medal Rolls, Copy SWB Roll, printout from Casualty Lists and a copy of the fascinating War Diary for the 9th Norfolks on the 20th of November 1917.
