A rare to documented units Gallipoli & Palestine Great War campaign group of 3: Colour Sergeant Peter Tracey 7th (Blythswood) Battalion Highland Light Infantry (Territorial Force) attached 'Camel Transport' & 'Donkey Company' Army Service Corps

- 1914-15 Star (2266 Pte. P. Tracey. High L. I.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (2266 Sjt. P. Tracey. H.L.I.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (2266 Sjt. P. Tracey. H.L.I.)

Sold together with:

- Pair of fibre Identity Discs. Both discs named with service details

Medals Verification: Sergeant Patrick Tracey of the Highland Light Infantry is confirmed entitled to all 3 x Great War medals, per the respective Great War medal rolls referenced below:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2902 Egypt 25/05/1915 with 7/HLI transferred 30/08/18 T/440553 CQMS. A.S.C.
- British War Medal WO 329/2062 shows final Army rank Company Quarter-Master Sergeant
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/2062 shows final Army rank Company Quarter-Master Sergeant

Note: The 1914-15 Star with smaller later type impressing, and exactly as issued

7th (Bythswood) Battalion Highland Light Infantry Gallipoli Service: The Lowland Division was warned for overseas service on 5 April 1915, and the infantry battalions received Long Lee Enfield rifles modified to take modern ammunition chargers. On 7 May the division was informed that it would be employed in the Gallipoli Campaign, and equipment such as sun helmets and water carts was issued. On 11 May the division was numbered as 52nd (Lowland) Division and the brigades also received numbers, the HLI becoming 157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade. 1/7th HLI and the bulk of 157th (HLI) Bde embarked aboard the troopship Transylvania at Devonport Dockyard and sailed on 26 May, via Gibraltar and Malta, disembarking at Alexandria in Egypt on 5 June and going into camp at Aboukir. Although some elements of the division had gone direct to the Gallipoli Peninsula, and others sailed on quickly from Alexandria, 157th (HLI) Bde on the Transylvania was turned back to Alexandria and the troops went back into camp. The battalion was not re-embarked until 28 June (aboard the Mauitor), arriving at Mudros on 1 July, Imbros on 2 July, and finally landing at Cape Helles on 3 July 1915. The battalion had landed with 30 officers and 941 ORs and received 19 officers and 104 ORs as reinforcements. During the Dardanelles campaign the battalion lost 7 officers and 709 ORs killed, 5 officers and 279 ORs wounded, 26 officers and 450 ORs evacuated to hospital sick, and 30 missing

The recipients service papers - a colourful set (a fondness for drink and brothels) - are extant and accessible at The National Archives

Peter Tracey, son of Peter Tracey (a School Board Officer and sometime Drill Instructor) and Margaret Grace Tracey (nee Gilbertson, born Baltasound, Unst, Shetland Islands, 14 December 1856) was a native of the parish of Cadder, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1889. By trade a 'Commercial Traveller', Peter cited 4 years prior service with the 'Glasgow Highlanders' (Territorial Force) prior to enlisting for Great War service at Glasgow on, 11 August 1914. On enlistment his age was 24 years and 4 months. His initial terms of engagement was for 'One Years Embodied Service' only - this was subsequently changed to 'Duration of War' , when he volunteered for overseas war service. at Glasgow on, 11 August 1914. After serving at Gallipoli, Peter subsequently served in Egypt and then Palestine with 52nd Lowland Division

Peter's extant service papers show that on 1 January 1918 he was appointed Acting Sergeant and on same date attached to 'Camel Transport'. He was still serving with the 'Camel Transport' when he was appointed paid acting 'Company Quarter-Master Sergeant' on, 15 April 1918. Peter's papers also show that uncommonly, he also had service attached to a 'Donkey Transport Company ' one of only three serving anywhere with the British Army during the Great War, all of which were deployed in Egypt and Palestine, the 1st Donkey Company serving under GHQ Troops in Palestine with an establishment of 762 donkeys!

There can have been extremely few British NCO's who had supervisory experience of handling different types of 'Beasts of Burden' , viz both Camels and Donkey's , in Palestine 1918-1919!

Peter's service records show theatres served as:

- Home: 11/08/1914 - 24/05/1915
- Mediterranean Expeditionary Force: 25/05/1915 - 30/06/1919
- En Route Home: 01/07/1919 - 16/07/1919
- Home: 17/07/1919 - 13/08/1919

An uncommon grouping to an Infantry soldier who was latterly appointed a Senior NCO, and had attached service with both Camel Transport and a Donkey Company of the Army Service Corps in Palestine 1918-19

Condition: About EF

Code: 24796