Lot 15
1916, Mesopotamian Theatre, Officer Casualty 1914‑15 Trio, awarded to 2nd Lieutenant William Haffenden Winch
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A 1916, Mesopotamian Theatre, Officer Casualty 1914‑15 Trio, awarded to 2nd Lieutenant William Haffenden Winch, “A” Coy. 1st/5th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) who died of wounds received at Sheikh Saad on the 13th of January 1916 comprising 1914-15 Star, (2.Lieut. W. M. Winch. E. Kent. R.), 1914-1920 British War and Victory Medals, (2 Lieut. W.H. Winch.), Memorial Plaque, (William Haffenden Winch), very fine (4).
2nd Lieutenant William Haffenden Winch, 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment), son of Mr. Winch of Bakers Cross House, Cranbrook, was educated at the Abbey School, Beckenham, and at Repton, where he was a member of the O.T.C. He enlisted in the 5th Buffs (East Kent Regiment) four days after the outbreak of the War, and was gazetted 22nd of August 1914. The following November, he left with the Battalion for India and was sent to Mesopotamia in December 1915. He was wounded at Sheikh Saad between 6th and 9th January, and died on the 12th. He was 21 years old.
Original Letter dated 30th October 1915 to his cousin Cecil Winch – his last letter home (See Lot 50)
‘My Dear Cecil
It is just a year since we left Southampton and now we are off again so what do you think of that? Where or when, we know not, but we have been mobilised and the 4th Borderers are coming up from Poona to take our station over in a few days. Everyone rushing back from leave and musketry courses etc. It will probably be the [unreadable] where one catches fever and is finished with before you see any fighting, perfectly bloody. I do anyhow want to see a show of some sort.
Young Ewells has hurt his ankle in the trenches; he is appallingly young to be a Corporal in a Line Regiment but I believe men would follow him ‑ he has quite a personality. It amuses me that in the [unreadable] crisis, you and Robin rush about on motor bicycles, God knows where except to the devil, waiting your substance in more ways than one. There is a lady of repute in Bombay who is called ‘Always’ because of the number of methods she provides for the male to take his pleasure. Not a great deal of news, we are all, not knowing what we shall want but 40lbs seems extraordinarily little for a full-grown person - however I suppose I shall cover myself with a sock and a tie.
Have not heard from Brams ‑ he will be sick when he hears we are going. His Regiment had just come from the frontier show they were on when he arrived.
I was sorely distressed at the immorality of your life in Cranbrook last holidays, most pathetic. It must be that Robin and you miss my support or perhaps that the girls miss me ‑ perhaps the better, probably look like the north end of a duck going south. I hope this letter will be answered ‑ it may lighten the dark hours of one labouring in a mass of balls.
So dear old thing, until my next which will not be from Kampkee, cheery-oh, though in a week or two, we shall be killed, bored with camp beds and camp food.
Yours,
Billy.’
Billy was wounded in action some two months later and died of his wounds, not the boredom predicted.
Sold with two Original letters, Original photograph in uniform, Original page from Remembrance Book and two Original photographs of his grave in Basra, taken by a family member whist on deployment to Iraq, Commonwealth War Graves Commission information, genealogical research. Copy War Diary.
His Officer’s papers are held at the National Archives under reference WO 374/75925.
See Lots 7 and 50 for family medals.
