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Original World War One British War Medal, Pte Mayhew, Middlesex R., Killed in Action

Code: MZ40309

Website: https://www.militariazone.com/casuality/original-world-war-one-british-war-medal-pte-mayhew-middlesex-r-killed-in-action/itm40309

An original British War Medal with length of original ribbon, correctly named to;

G-97922 PTE. J. MAYHEW. MIDD'X R.

John Mayhew is confirmed as being entitled to a pair on the MIC. He is noted on 'Soldiers Died' as having served with the 1st Battalion and being killed in action on the 24 October 1918, during the Battle of the Selle, as part of the final advance in Picardy.

His service record survives and is available on Ancestry. Before the war, he was a wood machinist and lived in Sunningdale. He joined the unit in theatre on 7 October 1918, just 17 days before his death.

Part of the information available on Ancestry is a letter to his mother, confirming he is believed to be buried in Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension, but this it has not been possible to identify his actual grave.

He was initially posted as missing on the 24 October, with a note confirming he was buried on 31 October, so clearly his body was found in the mean time.  Noted as K/A or D/Wds on or after 24 October 1918.

For an unknown reason he is recorded as J L Mayhew on CWGC and that his name is on a memorial at the cemetery, presumably as the actual grave could not be found.