{"product_id":"royal-scots-fusiliers-dow-died-wounds-july-1918-ww1-medal-trio-plaque-from-leith","title":"Royal Scots Fusiliers DOW Died Wounds July 1918 WW1 Medal Trio Plaque from Leith","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War 1914-15 Trio and Memorial Plaque – Private William Colley, 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers\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\u003e19408 PTE. W. COLLEY. R.SC:FUS:\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\u003e19408 PTE. W. COLLEY. R.SC.FUS.\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\u003e19408 PTE. W. COLLEY. R.SC.FUS.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMemorial Plaque – \u003cb\u003eWILLIAM COLLEY\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;\"\u003eWilliam George Colley\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born in \u003cb\u003eNorth Leith, Midlothian\u003c\/b\u003e, with his birth recorded in \u003cb\u003e1887\u003c\/b\u003e in official casualty records, though family notes give a birth date of \u003cb\u003e13 January 1889\u003c\/b\u003e. He was the son of \u003cb\u003eJames Colley\u003c\/b\u003e, a warehouseman, and \u003cb\u003eRose Ann (Roseanne) Colley (née Mills)\u003c\/b\u003e, who were married at \u003cb\u003eGreenock on 5 September 1884\u003c\/b\u003e. Prior to enlistment, William lived at \u003cb\u003e7 Cadiz Street, Leith\u003c\/b\u003e, and his name is recorded on the \u003cb\u003eLeith Roll of Honour\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWilliam enlisted at \u003cb\u003eLeith\u003c\/b\u003e and was posted to the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Scots Fusiliers\u003c\/b\u003e, later serving with the \u003cb\u003e2nd Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e. He proceeded overseas to the \u003cb\u003eWestern Front\u003c\/b\u003e, arriving in \u003cb\u003eFrance on 17 December 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, and went on to serve continuously in \u003cb\u003eFrance and Flanders\u003c\/b\u003e for over two and a half years. During this period, the 2nd Battalion saw prolonged front-line service, operating as part of the \u003cb\u003e9th (Scottish) Division\u003c\/b\u003e, and taking part in major campaigns including the Somme, Arras, Third Ypres, the retreat from St Quentin, and subsequent defensive and offensive operations in Flanders.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBy the summer of \u003cb\u003e1918\u003c\/b\u003e, the battalion was holding positions in the \u003cb\u003eKemmel–Meteren sector\u003c\/b\u003e, north of the Scarpe. Contemporary regimental history records that this sector was particularly uncomfortable and dangerous, being overlooked by German positions at \u003cb\u003eMeteren\u003c\/b\u003e, and subject to constant pressure. In June 1918, efforts were made to improve the line, including an advance of approximately 400 yards carried out with the cooperation of South African and Australian units.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIn \u003cb\u003eJuly 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, it was decided that Meteren itself should be captured. The date for the operation was fixed for \u003cb\u003e19 July 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, with the assault force comprising the \u003cb\u003eSouth African Composite Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e and the \u003cb\u003e2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers\u003c\/b\u003e. The attack was carefully rehearsed, and at \u003cb\u003e7.55 a.m. on 19 July\u003c\/b\u003e, the troops advanced in artillery formation under a creeping barrage, rapidly overrunning the enemy’s front-line posts. The Germans were taken by surprise, having expected only a gas discharge, and the attack succeeded in securing Meteren and the surrounding ridge by the afternoon, with all objectives reached.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eIt was during this intense period of fighting that \u003cb\u003ePrivate Colley was wounded\u003c\/b\u003e. He \u003cb\u003edied of wounds on 21 July 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, two days after the assault, while still in active service, aged \u003cb\u003e31\u003c\/b\u003e according to official records (age variously noted as 29 in family notes). His death is also described in private notes as resulting from \u003cb\u003egas poisoning\u003c\/b\u003e, consistent with the conditions and tactics used in the sector at that time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePrivate Colley is buried at \u003cb\u003eLa Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck\u003c\/b\u003e, grave \u003cb\u003eIII.A.6\u003c\/b\u003e, where he is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His headstone records him as \u003cb\u003e“W. Colley”\u003c\/b\u003e, and confirms his service with the \u003cb\u003e2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers\u003c\/b\u003e, as well as his mother \u003cb\u003eRoseanne Colley of Leith, Edinburgh\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHe is remembered with honour as a Leith man who served from late 1915 until the final months of the war, dying of wounds sustained during one of the successful Allied advances of July 1918.\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":53338406256986,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251219_120150.png?v=1768487128","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-scots-fusiliers-dow-died-wounds-july-1918-ww1-medal-trio-plaque-from-leith","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}