{"product_id":"queens-own-royal-west-kent-regiment-sgt-kia-trench-raid-1917-posthumous-mid-ww1-medal-trio","title":"Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Sgt KIA TRENCH RAID 1917 Posthumous MiD WW1 Medal Trio","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War British Medal Trio - Sergeant George James Frederick Lines, 1st Bn. Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1914-15 Star - \u003cb\u003eS-9036. PTE. G. J. F. LINES. R. W. KENT. R. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal - \u003cb\u003eS-9036. SJT. G. J. F. LINES. R. W. KENT. R. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal - \u003cb\u003eS-9036. SJT. G. J. F. LINES. R. W. KENT. R. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eGeorge James Frederick Lines\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on 27 October 1895 in Woolwich, Kent, the son of Frederick Louis Lines and Hannah Maria Dunthorne. Raised in a tight-knit London working-class family, he grew up between Woolwich and Charlton with several siblings, attending school locally before entering working life in his mid-teens. His mother died in June 1915 while he was already at war, one of the many private tragedies faced by soldiers serving overseas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eGeorge enlisted in the \u003cb\u003eQueen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e26 February 1914\u003c\/b\u003e, just seventeen years old, joining the 1st Battalion as a regular soldier. When war broke out in August, he was already trained and ready. He entered the Western Front early, landing in France on \u003cb\u003e7 December 1914\u003c\/b\u003e as a young private taking his place among the seasoned Regulars of the battalion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe winter and spring of 1915 were brutal for the West Kents, and George experienced fierce trench fighting, poor conditions, and heavy German bombardments. On \u003cb\u003e13 July 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, he was \u003cb\u003ewounded in action\u003c\/b\u003e, an injury serious enough for his name to appear on the official War Office casualty lists published on 20 July 1915—entitling him to wear the \u003cb\u003eWound Stripe\u003c\/b\u003e later authorised under Army Order 204 of 1916.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDespite his youth, George’s ability and steadiness under fire quickly marked him out. He rose through the ranks with remarkable speed: \u003cb\u003eLance Corporal on 31 December 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eCorporal on 17 August 1916\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eSergeant on 6 October 1916\u003c\/b\u003e. These rapid promotions during active operations show that he was highly regarded by his officers and trusted to lead men in the line.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBy early 1917 the battalion was holding trenches near Givenchy-les-la-Bassée, an area notorious for mine warfare, raids, and sudden, violent local attacks. It was here that Sergeant Lines was killed in action on \u003cb\u003e10 February 1917\u003c\/b\u003e, aged just 21. He fell during what later sources describe as a trench raid in the Givenchy sector, part of the constant pressure and small-scale operations that defined the Western Front that winter. Please see below for a full account of this trench raid.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHis bravery and service did not go unnoticed. George was \u003cb\u003eMentioned in Despatches\u003c\/b\u003e by \u003cb\u003eSir Douglas Haig\u003c\/b\u003e, the notice appearing in the \u003ci\u003eLondon Gazette\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003cb\u003e25 May 1917\u003c\/b\u003e, page \u003cb\u003e5160\u003c\/b\u003e, stating he was “deserving of special mention.” This was the highest form of recognition short of a gallantry medal and reflects courage, leadership, and distinguished conduct in the field.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eGeorge is buried at \u003cb\u003eGorre British and Indian Cemetery\u003c\/b\u003e, plot III.C.6, not far from where he fell. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records confirm his death in the Givenchy sector, and his headstone stands among the many Regular soldiers of the BEF who fought through the darkest years of the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFrom a seventeen-year-old recruit in 1914 to a seasoned sergeant by 1917, George James Frederick Lines’ service is a striking example of the speed with which the young men of the Old Contemptibles grew into hardened front-line leaders. Wounded, decorated, and ultimately killed in action while still only twenty-one, he represents the bravery, responsibility, and sacrifice borne by Britain’s pre-war professional soldiers. His Mention in Despatches stands as an enduring testament to his conduct under fire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe Givenchy Trench Raid, 10 February 1917\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eOn \u003cb\u003e10 February 1917\u003c\/b\u003e, the 1st Battalion carried out a bold daylight trench raid against the German lines in the \u003cb\u003eGivenchy Right\u003c\/b\u003e sector. Zero hour was fixed for \u003cb\u003e3.00 p.m.\u003c\/b\u003e, and the assault was entrusted to \u003cb\u003eA and B Companies\u003c\/b\u003e, under their respective commanders:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eA Company – Capt. W. R. Cobb, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e2nd Lts. D. A. Brett \u0026amp; L. A. Harris, \u0026amp; Sgt. Donhou\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eB Company – Capt. J. J. Scott M.C., \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e2nd Lts. B. C. B. Jagger \u0026amp; H. E. Fry, \u0026amp; \u003cb\u003eSgt. Lines\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eEach company attacked in three separate parties, advancing across a shattered foreground filled with mine craters and water-filled shell holes. In the moments before the raid began, the morning had been unnervingly quiet, suggesting the Germans might detect the impending operation. But when the battalion’s guns opened precisely at Zero, the raiders pushed forward with determination.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe artillery had cut the German wire effectively, and the assault parties crossed no man’s land with \u003cb\u003elittle difficulty\u003c\/b\u003e, climbing through the craters and into the enemy’s front positions. Resistance there proved slight. Wherever Germans were encountered, they were quickly \u003cb\u003ekilled or captured\u003c\/b\u003e, and the attackers pressed deeper into the trench system than originally planned. In places they moved so quickly that some parties even \u003cb\u003eovertook their own creeping barrage\u003c\/b\u003e, forcing them to advance with caution through bursts of friendly shell-fire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWithin \u003cb\u003eB Company\u003c\/b\u003e, one of the principal assault parties was led by \u003cb\u003eSgt G. J. F. Lines\u003c\/b\u003e, whose name appears prominently in the war diary. His party entered the German trenches with “the utmost dash and keenness,” pushing aggressively into the support line and taking part in the close-quarters fighting that unfolded there. In this confused and violent struggle, amid bombing of dugouts and the clearing of trench bays, \u003cb\u003eSgt Lines\u003c\/b\u003e was \u003cb\u003eseverely wounded\u003c\/b\u003e, suffering an injury from which, the war diary records, \u003cb\u003ehe soon afterwards died\u003c\/b\u003e. His loss was keenly felt within the company, which suffered the heaviest casualties of the raid.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMeanwhile, other elements continued their work: attached tunnellers destroyed enemy mine shafts; dugouts were bombed; and the raiders inflicted significant damage on the trench system. The diary estimates that \u003cb\u003earound 150 Germans were killed\u003c\/b\u003e, with additional prisoners taken, including at least one officer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfter only a short time in the trenches, the recall signal was given. B Company began to withdraw first, shortly after \u003cb\u003e3.30 p.m.\u003c\/b\u003e, followed by A Company, who had remained slightly longer under the impression they had missed the pre-arranged rocket signal. As the parties came back through the broken ground, some again passed through the tail end of the British barrage, and the diary acknowledges that a proportion of the battalion’s losses were caused by \u003cb\u003efriendly fire\u003c\/b\u003e rather than enemy action.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBy the time the raiding parties were safely back in their own lines, the enemy had begun to retaliate with artillery, but the counter-battery work conducted beforehand had delayed their response long enough to spare the withdrawing troops further heavy casualties.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWhen the final tally was taken, the battalion had suffered:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e11 killed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e54 wounded\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e3 wounded and missing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e2 missing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAmong the dead was \u003cb\u003eSgt G. J. F. Lines\u003c\/b\u003e, whose leadership and conduct during the raid were later recognised when he was \u003cb\u003eMentioned in Despatches\u003c\/b\u003e by Sir Douglas Haig. His actions at Givenchy—leading his men into the German trenches with determination, and giving his life in the process—formed the defining moment of his wartime service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePlease note the trio is missing the MiD oak leaf.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52876509315418,"sku":null,"price":235.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251126_133905.png?v=1764326500","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/queens-own-royal-west-kent-regiment-sgt-kia-trench-raid-1917-posthumous-mid-ww1-medal-trio","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}