WW1 Hallmarked Silver ID Bracelet - Signaller later 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Harry Lambert - Rifle Brigade

A superb item, engraved silver Identity bracelet on its original chain, fully functional. Reverse has the hallmarks for London assay office with the date letter 'a' (1916) and maker's details "M. Bros". Also sterling lion marks to clasp. The obverse is neatly engraved "Signaller Gerald H. Lambert, 4562, 13th Batt Rifle Brigade, RC (Roman Catholic)."

His MIC (copy to be supplied) confirms his full name and number, his entitlement to a 1914-15 trio and his date of entry into France & Flanders as 29th July 1915. It also confirms his subsequent commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 51st (Graduated Battalion), The Rifle Brigade. Worthy of further research, not checked to see if his papers are available.

The 13th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 111th Brigade in the 37th Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front. The battalion saw action at the Battle of Loos in September 1915, the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 and the advance to the Hindenburg Line as well as the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 before taking part in the Battle of the Lys in April 1918, the Third Battle of the Aisne in May 1918, the Second Battle of the Somme in August 1918, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy.

The 51st (Graduated) Battalion of The Rifle Brigade was, up to 27 October 1917, known as 237th Graduated Battalion and had no regimental affiliation. Before that it had been 19th Battalion of the Training Reserve and up to September 1916 had been the 14th (Reserve) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (see above). A training unit based at Welbeck, it was part of 206th Brigade in 69th Division. It moved in January 1918 to Aldershot, and went on next month to Ipswich and from June 1918 was at Foxhall Heath.

Comm BoHa (69)

Code: 63441