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The medals of a Tommy who was killed at the Somme while dribbling a football across No Man's Land in the 'Great European Cup' have emerged for sale.
Private John Buckle and his fellow members of the 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment passed the balls to each other as they advanced on the German trenches on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.
It was the idea of their superior, Captain Wilfred Nevill, who promised a reward to the first platoon to score a 'goal' in the enemy trenches during the famous push to capture Montauban Ridge, on July 1, 1916.
However, whilst the ridge, in northern France, was captured, both Private Buckle and Captain Nevill were killed in the daring raid. They were among 20,000 British troops who died on July 1 alone.
Two of the balls were recovered after the battle and one of them is still on display at the Queen's Regimental Museum in Dover, Kent, while the other was destroyed in a fire at the Surrey Infantry Museum in 2015.
The East Surrey Regiment celebrated the return of one of the balls in a ceremony on July 21, 1916, at the regimental depot in Kingston, Surrey.
The medals of Private John Buckle, a Tommy who was killed at the Somme while dribbling a football across No Man's Land in the 'Great European Cup', have emerged for sale. Above: British War Medal (left) and the British Victory Medal (right)
Private Buckle's war medals have now been put up for sale at auction by a private collector.
As well as receiving the British War Medal and British Victory Medal, Private Buckle was also entitled to the 1914-15 star. He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Matthew Tredwin, director at C&T Auctioneers, of Ashford, Kent, said: 'Many people are aware of the famous Christmas 1914 football match which took place, but less so the events on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Captain Wilfred Nevill (pictured right) promised a reward to the first platoon to score a 'goal' in
