A poignant documented 'Somme Veteran's' Great War casualty pair of medals: Corporal John 'Jack' Thomas Lynam, 1st/6th (Morayshire) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Territorial Force)

- British War Medal. Silver issue (3605 Cpl. J. T. Lynam. Sea. Highrs.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (3605 Cpl. J. T. Lynam. Sea. Highrs.)

Sold together with below following original ephemera (a/f)

- Named card box issues of issue for the Great War medals (flattened a/f)
- Transmittal letter for next of kin of the fallen from the King George V & Queen Mary on Buckingham Palace letter-head
- Transmittal notice for Memorial Plaque

Medals verification: Both medals confirmed as the recipient's complete medal entitlement for the Great War per below cited medal rolls of the Seaforth Highlanders:

- British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/1644, the medal roll compiled and signed at Perth, Scotland on, 16 April 1920
- Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1644, the medal roll compiled and signed at Perth, Scotland on, 16 April 1920

Died of Disease: Corporal John 'Jack' Thomas Lynam is confirmed having died in France, on 10 December 1916, of illness contracted while on active service during the Great War

The memory of the life and supreme sacrifice of Corporal John 'Jack' Thomas Lynam, is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on a regimental headstone memorial bearing the badge of the Seaforth Highlanders, located at the CWGC British Cemetery, Contay, Somme, Picardy, France

'Jack' Lynam was a well known resident of his hometown Crich community and the local county newspapers published the following articles following his recorded death on active service:

Quote (Derbyshire Times issue of 23 December 1916);

Unquote.

CRICH SEAFORTH’S DEATH

Information was received last weekend that Lance Corporal J. T. Lynam of the Seaforth Highlanders, son of Mr and Mrs Lynam of the Post Office Fritchley, had died at the Front in France. The Matron of the 49th Casualty Clearing Section wrote saying that Lance Corporal Lynam died on the 10th last from pneumonia and that the funeral took place at the British Military Cemetery, Contay. The sad news caused widespread sorrow and regret in the Fritchley and Crich district, where the deceased soldier was well-known and respected. He enlisted about fifteen months ago and saw much hard fighting at the Western Front. In the terrible battle of the Somme he had many narrow escapes and it is the bitter irony of fate that he should come through all this and then die from illness. One incident which occurred is worth recording. During one engagement some elaborate German dug-outs were captured and Lance Corporal Lynam was in charge of the party which took possession. On entering one of the dug-outs he found a German inside and ordered the latter to come out. The “Boche” however, beckoned to Lance Corporal Lynam to come further inside and then whilst parlaying the treacherous German fired point blank at the Britisher, but fortunately missed. What happened to the Hun is not recorded! The late Mr Lynam was about 30 years of age and single. He was a member of the Fritchley Congregational Church, the members of which will keenly feel his loss. He formerly took an interest in local football and was at different times goalkeeper for the Fritchley Congregational and Alderwasley football clubs. He also had association with Cromford at which place he spent several summers camping out. Before he joined the Army he was employed at the Chief Goods Manager’s Office, Midland Railway, Derby. The utmost sympathy is felt for the bereaved family.

And secondly;

Quote (Derbyshire Courier, issue of 13 January 1917);

FRITCHLEY SEAFORTH’S DEATH

The sad circumstances of Cpl Jack Lynam's death in hospital in France on 10 December have just been received by his sister at the Post Office, Fritchley. The news is conveyed in a sympathetic letter from Lieutenant G E Edwards, an officer of his company. he writes: "I was informed that your brother was ill in bed, so I went and saw him and then got the doctor to see him again. Next morning 8 December he went to hospital, and I had a talk with him before he went away. He was very ill and could hardly breathe, but still said he was sorry to go at such a time as he fully understood toward the situation, as we were going into action again and he knew how small our company was. I was the only officer. Yesterday we were informed from the hospital that he had died on 10 December. This was a great shock to me and his comrades, but no one here realised we were to lose such a soldier under such circumstances. His comrades join with me in expressing our heartfelt sympathy to you in your great loss. I may tell you I had a great admiration for your brother, as he was one of the few who returned after our victory on 13 November. He was promoted Cpl the day he left and I had his name put forward for gallantry and devotion to duty on that date."

Unquote.

John 'Jack' Thomas Lynam, Sim, second son of James Lynam (a Sub-Postmaster) and Elizabeth Mary Lynam (nee Leam) was a native of, Heage, Derbyshire, England, where he was born on, 21 February 1887. The 1911 National Census for England & Wales, records 'Jack' employed as a 'Clerk' working with a Railway Company. In 1911, he was living with his parents and all three of his full-blood siblings (an older brother & 2 x younger sisters), at the family residence located at, Fritchley, Derbyshire (as no house number is shown presumably the family resided above the 'Post Office' in Fritchley). 'Jack' enlisted in the British Army sometime in the Autumn of 1915, with records showing he enlisted at Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, where he was posted to the Seaforth Highlanders. After completing his basic training, he was sometime after 31 December 1915, posted to the local Territorial Force battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, vis, 1/6th (Moray) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, that had been serving overseas in France, under higher formation of the 51st Highland Division, British Expeditionary Force, since May 1915. In spite of being in the thick of the action during the Battle of the Somme, 'Jack' sadly died of disease in France, on 10 December 1916

Clients should cut & paste below link into Google Search, to access an excellent community historical website commemorating the lives and services of the residents of Crich (Derbyshire) and nearby communities who served in the Great War, and that contains a dedicated biographical page with several photographs pertaining to 'Jack' Lynam - and it is courtesy of the referenced 'Crich' website that we have included an image of 'Jack' in his Seaforth uniform.....

https://www.crichparish-ww1.co.uk/ww1webpages/lynamjohnthomas.html

The medals in choice virtually pristine condition, with only minimal signs of prior handling

Condition: Silver medal toned EF Interallied Victory 'Bright' unblemished EF

Code: 23505