Description
(British Army) First Day of the Somme 1 July 1916 – Two Memorial plaques of the Sutherland Brothers.
Named to Privat Roderick George Sutherland, servicenumer 7257, Seaforth Highlanders, who died 01 July 1916 at the First Day of the Somme. Privat Roderick George Sutherland is burried at Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 at section I. J. 25. -> link: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/609984/roderick-george-sutherland/
and his brother Privat Kenneth Sutherland, servicenumber 6675, Royal Army Medical Corps, who died 14 september 1915. Private Kenneth Sutherland is buried at St. Sever Cemetery in Rouen, at section A. 11. 9. -> Link: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/172562/kenneth-sutherland/
Both the brothers Memorial plaque’s have the Sutherlands brother’s name’s in a cartouche on the front.
The plaque are in very good condition and come with several pages of research, as well as a homemade displaystand to display the plaque’s.
Of special note: this is one of the most sad set’s of medals i’ve ever encountered. These two plaques and the research that comes with them just breath history and very intensely show the cruelty of war. This is a special and very rare set that deserves to be displayed in a high end collection or museum.
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Background:
The First Day of the Battle of the Somme was to be the first mass offensive mounted by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the first battle to involve a large number of New Army divisions, many composed of Pals battalions that had formed after Kitchener’s call for volunteers in August 1914. In total this day 57,470 casualties suffered by the British, including 19,240 killed, which were the worst in the history of the British Army.
More background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_day_on_the_Somme
and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme
