Original World War One Mons Star Medal Trio, Pte Hill, 2/Royal Sussex R., Killed in Action

An original World War One era medal trio, comprising 1914 Mons Star with Bar, British War Medal and Victory Medal.  Original ribbons, slightly tatty in places on the rear where previously framed.  A couple of spots of glue residue on the reverse of the BWM, but should easily polish off.  Complete with Royal Sussex Regiment cap badge.  Correctly named as follows;

Mons Star - 8365 PTE R. HILL. 2/R.SUSS:R.

BWM and Vic - L-8365 PTE. R. HILL. R. SUSS. R.

Pte Robert Hill's entitlement to the Mons Star trio with clasp is confirmed on the Medal Index Card showing he arrived in theatre on 12 August 1914.  The MIC also states "Dead 8.4.16".

Soldiers Died shows he hailed from Harting (Yapton, Arundel mentioned on CWGC) and enlisted in Chichester and confirms that he was Killed in Action on 8 April 1916 whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion.

His service record is still extant and available on Ancestry showing he was a professional soldier having signed up on 1 December 1905, one of Kitchener's Old Comptemptibles.

He was truly a tough soldier, his service records indicates;

28 September 1914 - Wounded in Action (Troyow?) to Hospital on 1 October 1914 - Gun Shot Wound

9 May 1915 - Wounded in Action (Richebourg) to Hospital on 12 May 1915 - Gun Shot Wound, Buttock

11 December 1915 - Shrapnel Wound, Scalp (no place stated)

To England 27 December 1915

Taken back on strength 3 March 1916

Posted Missing around 8 April 1916.

Service record also shows he was advanced to Lance Corporal in 1909, but reverted back to Private at this own request in 1910.  Looks as though he may have served in India prior to the Great War (Rawalpindi and Gharial) and appears to have been hospitalised at least twice whle there. He was also qualified as Mountry Infantry (achieved 18 February 1908), He was deprived 3 days pay for going AWOL in February 1916, whilst still back in the UK.

At the time of his death the unit was in the front line near Loos.  A mine was detonated by the Germans opposite the 'Seaforth Alley' trench.  The far side of the crater 'Seaforth' crater was occupied by the Germans on the 6th June.  There are various reports in the war diary regards casualties on the 7th and 8th June, but no explanation as to why the body of Robert could not be found.  His service record appears to state 'accepted as having died on or around 8/4/16.

He is remembered on the Arras Memorial.