Three: Private W. Staveley, Manchester Regiment 1914-15 Star (16805 Pte. W. Staveley. Manch...

Three: Private W. Staveley, Manchester Regiment 1914-15 Star (16805 Pte. W. Staveley. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (16805 Pte. W. E. Staveley. Manch. R.) mounted court-style for display, small verdigris spot to 1914-15 Star, otherwise nearly extremely fine Four: Corporal T. Hughes, Manchester Regiment British War and Victory Medals (19414 Cpl. T. Hughes. Manch. R.); Defence Medal; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R., unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, a couple of small contact marks to the first two, otherwise better than very fine (7) £100-£140 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 15 August 1917 (Mesopotamia). William Staveley was born in Swinton, Lancashire, in 1880 and following the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered to join the army for ‘the duration of the war’, at the age of 34. After an initial posting to the 3rd Reserve Battalion he was transferred to 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment for service in France later in 1915. He joined his battalion in time for the advance of Neuve Chapelle. Later that year his battalion took part in the Battle of Loos, but by December 1915 his battalion entrained for the south of France and thence by ship to Basrah, Iraq, reaching there in January 1916. Staveley would have participated in General Maude’s Offensive along the banks of the Tigris River in December 1916, and by early March 1917 Baghdad was liberated. Having been Mentioned in Despatches, Staveley returned to the U.K. on leave on 4 July 1918. He was discharged from the army on 28 March 1919. Thomas Hughes was born at Pendleton, Manchester, in September 1885 and following the outbreak of the Great War and the creation of the 6th City Battalion of the Manchester Regiment (6th Manchester Pals) he enlisted on 23 November 1914. His battalion was later designated the 21 Battalion Manchester Regiment and on 9 November 1915 his battalion entrained for Folkestone and joined 143rd Infantry Brigade at Couin, France on 27 November (also entitled to a 1914-15 Star). For the next two years his battalion remained on the Western Front, until in November 1917 his battalion was sent to the Italian Front. Hughes returned to the U.K. in March 1918 and was transferred to the 4th Battalion on the Humber Garrison. Sold with copied service papers and other research.