A significant 1st July 1916 - 'First Day of the Battle of the Somme' - Military Medal awarded to Private R. Cryle, 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers who was Missing in Action presumed Killed on 1st July 1916 at La Boisselle. Having no known grave he is now remembered on the Thiepval Memorial and was posthumously awarded the Military Medal, announced in the London Gazette of 10th August 1916, having, along with other members of his battalion been decorated for their actions that day, including during the advance under intense machine-gun fire from the German strongpoint at Schwabenhohe.
Military Medal, GVR 1st type bust; (22-1708 PTE. R. CRYLE. 22/NTH’LD FUS.)
Condition: Minor contact marks, Good Very Fine
Robert Cryle was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and lived at 23 Bowman Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and would go on to see service on the Western Front during the Great War as a Private (No. 22-1708) with the 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.
Cryle is recorded as Missing in Action, presumed Killed, on 1st July 1916, aged 18 years – the first day of the Battle of the Somme - during the fighting at La Boisselle. Having no known grave he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 10th August 1916, this for his actions during the chaotic morning of 1st July 1916 when he would have taken part in the battalions attack on La Boisselle. In the chaos of that day, men of the 22nd Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) were cited for ‘conspicuous gallantry’ in maintaining the advance under intense machine-gun fire from the German strongpoint at Schwabenhohe.
