Three: Private E. Davies, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), who was reported missing after the action at Wasmes on 24 August 1914; re-joining his regiment on 3 November he was killed in action during the First Battle of Ypres on 11 November 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (7305 Pte. E. Davies. 2/W. Rid: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7305 Pte. E. Davies. W. Rid. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £240-£280 --- Enoch Davies was born in Hull, Yorkshire in 1883 and attested for the West Riding Regiment at Halifax on 27 November 1902. He served in India February 1904 to November 1905 and transferred to the Army Reserve on the expiration of his period of Army Service on 30 November 1905. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he was mobilised from the Reserve at Halifax on 5 August 1914 and posted to the 2nd Battalion, disembarking with them at Havre, France on 15 August. Billeted in the market place at Hornu on the night of the 22 August, Davies’ battalion moved forward the following day and fought at the Battle of Mons on the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of fighting. Deployed along the canal at St. Ghislain, the battalion’s rifle fire took a terrible toll on the advancing Germans, as testified to by Lieutenant Ince: ‘I think it was about 8 or 8.30 p.m., when at about 500 yards we saw a German company in fours marching down a road on our right flank towards the British positions. We immediately opened fifteen rounds rapid into them, together with one of our Vickers guns. We practically wiped out the German company, though they did the only thing they could do, that was to extend and immediately open fire on us. Most of them were either killed or wounded, and a few retired rapidly. Our casualties were unfortunately two killed and one or two slightly wounded.’ And also by Lieutenant O’Kelly: ‘About an hour later (3 o’clock afternoon) we saw the enemy advancing in a great mass several hundreds strong, while we were about 50 only. We opened rapid fire and did terrible damage, the enemy’s front ranks falling fast, but always filling up. Each man must have fired some hundreds of rounds that evening.’ That night the battalion withdrew via Hornu to Wasmes where they came under heavy shell fire at daybreak, followed by an infantry assault later in the morning by German III Corps who advanced in columns and were ‘mown down like grass’ by British rifle fire and machine-gun fire. The 2nd West Riding Regiment together with other battalions of the 13th Brigade then held off repeated German attacks on the village of Wasmes, incurring heavy casualties of their own, and then retreated in good order to St. Vaast around midday. Brigadier-General C. D. Bruce, C.B.E. records in the regimental history a number of first hand accounts from those present at Wasmes; one survivor, a Corporal in C Company describes how Lieutenant Russell’s No. 12 Platoon of C Company met their end: ‘The Germans were all round his front, right, and rear, and at very close quarters. More Germans were advancing across the cornfield in which the platoon was situated, carrying stacks of corn as shields in front of them. Mr. Russell and his platoon were all firing the ‘mad minute’ with their bayonets fixed. I saw the Germans charge the platoon, who fought to the last with the bayonet, and were all either killed or wounded. The Germans were piled in heaps all around them. All our officers were either killed or wounded.’ Private Davies was reported missing after the fighting at Wasmes on 24 August but he rejoined his regiment on 3 November 1914 just as they moved to billets near Dranoutre. Having moved through Ypres on 5 November, the 2nd West Riding Regiment were then engaged in a fierce attack near Hermitage Chateau to regain lost trenches before moving to new positions at the Veldoek Chateau on 10 November - the woods of these two old estates being separated by the Ypres-Menin Road. The enemy then attacked in force the following morning at about 8am; Major E. G. Harrison kept a diary which noted: ‘Exceptionally heavy shelling started 7 a.m., practically all shrapnel, covering the whole position from the firing line to the reserves, continuing the bombardment till 8 a.m., when it abated. At this time a message came to me by an orderly from Lieut. R. O. D. Carey, saying, “Am very hard pressed but will hang on as long as possible.” I then advanced with the remainder of my force. We found the Germans had advanced past the Veldoek Chateau, but we managed to repulse them, gaining back the ground, being nearly as far as our old firing line, which Lieut. R. O. D. Carey with D Company had been driven out of. We could have actually regained these trenches if the troops on the right and left of us had been up.’ Private Davies was reported missing after the day’s action which had caused the battalion over 300 casualties. He was later confirmed to have been killed on or since that date. He was the son of Harriet Davies and the husband of Sarah Davies and having no known grave is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
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Three: Private R. G. Smith, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, who was killed in action at Kruiseecke Hill, during the First Battle of Ypres, on 26 October 1914 1914 Star (7611 Pte. R. G. Smith. 2/Bord: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7611 Pte. R. G. Smith. Bord. R.) toned, good very fine (3) £160-£200 --- Robert George Smith was born at Ratcliffe, London and attested for the Border Regiment at Stratford, Essex in 1904. Following the outbreak of the Great War he served with the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front from 5 October 1914, his battalion moving forward to Ypres on 14 October then on to Zillebeke on 15 October and entrenched on Kruiseecke Hill on 20 October with the battalion’s front covering over 2 miles. As the enemy began their attack in force on 24 October, the battalion was given the order that - ‘trenches were to be held at all costs’: ‘Battalion’s positions came under heavy bombardment - trenches being commanded on three sides by enemy artillery, particularly from guns situated on America Ridge about 1 mile to the south-east. One officer calculated 1500 enemy shells during a 10 hour period. Colonel Wylly notes that it was impossible to leave the trenches by day, rations and supplies having to be brought up by night. There were no telephonic communications - messages being carried by runners, and enemy snipers were operating from 300 yards. Machine-gun section blown out of its position during night and one gun buried. Detachment under Lieutenant Wilson forced to retire to second position. Lieutenant Watson led his party back during night (25th) and upon seeing the enemy advancing in large numbers moved his gun to a more forward position where his section inflicted high casualties from 300 yards throughout the day. party of some 200 Germans entered line to the left of “B” Company and indicated that they wished to surrender. However, when Major Allen and six men moved out to bring them in he was killed with one other man. Front-line trenches held by “A” and “B” Companies taken (26th) - 70 survivors driven to the rear... later with Headquarters personnel, held off further enemy advance. “C” Company under Captain Molyneux-Seel brought up in support. Battalion ordered to retire to Zandvoorde during evening.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers) Private R. G. Smith was recorded killed on or since 26 October 1914. He was the husband of Elizabeth Smith and is buried in Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Belgium.
Pair: Sergeant A. Spicksley, 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment, who was killed in action at Kruiseecke Hill, during the First Battle of Ypres, in October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (6312 Sjt. A. Spicksley. 2/Bord: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (6312 Sjt. A. Spicksley. Bord. R.); Memorial Plaque (Alfred Spicksley) good very fine (3) £160-£200 --- Alfred William Spicksley was born in 1882 at New Barnet, Hertfordshire and attested for the Border Regiment in October 1900. He served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War and was awarded the Q.S.A. with 4 clasps. Following the outbreak of the Great War he served with 14 Platoon in the 2nd Battalion on the Western Front from 5 October 1914, his battalion moving forward to Ypres on 14 October then on to Zillebeke on 15 October and entrenched on Kruiseecke Hill on 20 October with the battalion’s front covering over 2 miles. Second Lieutenant Clancy was killed on 22 October and Captain Gordon and around 14 men were killed on 23 October. As the enemy began their attack in force on 24 October, the battalion was given the order that - ‘trenches were to be held at all costs’: ;Battalion’s positions came under heavy bombardment - trenches being commanded on three sides by enemy artillery, particularly from guns situated on America Ridge about 1 mile to the south-east. One officer calculated 1500 enemy shells during a 10 hour period. Colonel Wylly notes that it was impossible to leave the trenches by day, rations and supplies having to be brought up by night. There were no telephonic communications - messages being carried by runners, and enemy snipers were operating from 300 yards. Machine-gun section blown out of its position during night and one gun buried. Detachment under Lieutenant Wilson forced to retire to second position. Lieutenant Watson led his party back during night (25th) and upon seeing the enemy advancing in large numbers moved his gun to a more forward position where his section inflicted high casualties from 300 yards throughout the day. party of some 200 Germans entered line to the left of “B” Company and indicated that they wished to surrender. However, when Major Allen and six men moved out to bring them in he was killed with one other man. Front-line trenches held by “A” and “B” Companies taken (26th) - 70 survivors driven to the rear...later with Headquarters personnel, held off further enemy advance. “C” Company under Captain Molyneux-Seel brought up in support. Battalion ordered to retire to Zandvoorde during evening.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers) The Registers of Soldiers’ Effects and CWGC both state that Spicksley was killed in action on 23 October 1914 whereas the 1914 Star medal roll states that he was killed in action on 26 October 1914. He was the son of James Spicksley, of New Barnet, Herts and the husband of Jeanie Hall Spicksley, of Braeport, Dunblane, Perthshire. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium, and on the East Barnet Valley War Memorial, New Barnet. Sold together with a large quantity of photographs and postcards relating to the recipient, his family and the Border Regiment including a portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform and a postcard of 14 Platoon, 2nd Border Regiment, 27 August 1914, sent by the recipient to his mother post dated Pembroke Dock, 11 September 1914; a ticket to the opening ceremony of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres on 24 July 1927 and an associated medallion; A Border Regiment shoulder title; and a booklet entitled ‘Introduction to the registers of the Ypres (Menin Gate) and Tyne Cot, Passchendaele, Memorials, Belgium.’
Three: Sergeant E. Day, 2nd and 6th Battalions, Border Regiment, who died on 28 August 1918 from wounds received on the Piave Front - he had earlier been severely wounded during the First Battle of Ypres and also at Gallipoli, for which latter campaign he was also Mentioned in Despatches 1914 Star, with copy clasp (8210 L. Cpl. E. Day. 2/Bord: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (8210 Pte. E. Day. Bord. R.); Memorial Plaque (Edward Day) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll, ‘L/Cpl. Edward Day Border Regt.’, in OHMS transmission tube addressed to, ‘Mrs T. Day, 235 Parkes Street, Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne’, nearly extremely fine (5) £300-£400 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 28 January 1916. Edward Day was born in 1887 at Byker, Northumberland and was a brass moulder by trade. He attested for the Border Regiment at Leicester on 23 January 1906. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he served in Gibraltar August 1906 to October 1908 and afterwards in Rangoon and Maymyo, Upper Burma until December 1912, at which time he was brought home and transferred to the Reserve on the expiration of his Army Service. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was mobilised from the Reserve on 8 August 1914 and appointed Lance Corporal, his former rank, in the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment and served with them on the Western Front from 5 October. Day suffered a gun shot wound to the head during the First Battle of Ypres and was admitted to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 4 November from where he was invalided back to England. Day’s wounds were without doubt sustained in the heavy fighting on 2 November at Veldhoek. On this day, the Germans launched a major attack and were driven back with great casualties, the 2nd Border Regiment having held their fire until the last moment. Another attack on the right later in the day was similarly repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. The battalion were relieved that night. News of the Border Regiment’s stubborn defence prompted the G.O.C., 7th Division, Major-General T. Capper to send the following effusive commendation to the Battalion via the Brigade Commander: ‘2nd Battalion Border Regiment. This Battalion held a portion of the Kruiseecke position in front of Ypres during which it was exposed to particularly heavy shell fire for 3 days and nights. Many of the trenches were blown in, but no trench was given up by any portion of this battalion. On 2nd November this Battalion formed the right of the Brigade at Veldhoek. Owing to troops on the right giving way the enemy was able to occupy some woods and so surround the right of the Border Regiment. Nevertheless the Battalion held its line for some hours until the enemy could be driven from these woods by relieving troops. During the fighting this Battalion lost very heavily. The devoted and firm conduct of this Battalion repeatedly calls forth the admiration of the Brigadier and of officers in other battalions in the same brigade; and I myself, can testify to its fortitude and determination to maintain its position at all costs; a spirit which saved a difficult and critical situation. It is impossible to praise this Battalion too highly for its firmness and battle discipline.’ Day was promoted Sergeant in March 1915 and, upon recuperation, posted to the 6th Battalion. He served with C Company in Gallipoli from 1 July 1915 where he suffered a bullet wound to his right side and was admitted to 149th Field Ambulance on 22 August 1915 before being transferred via trawler to a Hospital Ship, dangerously ill. Returning to England on 11 November 1915, he was hospitalised for seven months before returning to light duty. For his services in Gallipoli he was Mentioned in General Hamilton’s despatch of 11 December 1915. Arrested by the Civil Powers for a misdemeanour, he was sentenced to jail with 15 months hard labour in May 1917, the sentence being later partially remitted. Day was, however, reduced to the ranks. Posted to rejoin the 2nd Battalion with the British Expeditionary Force in Italy on 10 February 1918, he was wounded in action at the Piave River and admitted to hospital on 9 August 1918 with multiple gun shot wounds and a fractured skull, dying of his wounds on 28 August 1918. He was the son of Alan and Elizabeth Day and the husband of Thomasina Day of 235 Parker Street, Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne and is buried in Bordighera British Cemetery, Italy. Sold together with the recipient’s M.I.D. certificate, dated 11 December 1915; the recipient’s ‘Soldiers’ Small Book’ and Army Form 45B sent to the recipient’s widow, regarding personal effects.
Three: Lance Corporal W. J. Jupp, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action at Klein Zillebeke during the First Battle of Ypres on 7 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (10196 Pte. W. J. Jupp. 2/R. Suss: R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-10196 Pte. W. J. Jupp R. Suss. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Wilfred John Jupp was born in 1894 at Brighton, Sussex and attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester in 1913. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 August 1914. After the Retreat from Mons, his battalion experienced heavy fighting above Troyon during the operations on the Aisne in September, and at Shrewsbury Forest and Bodmin Copse during the struggle for Gheluvelt, 30-31 October 1914. They were then moved to Klein Zillebeke on 7 November and were in action the same day losing Second Lieutenant G. Moore and approximately 20 men killed, wounded or missing. Lance Corporal was among those killed. He was the son of Charles and Caroline Jupp of 96 Elm Grove, Brighton and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Sold together with a copied photograph of the recipient as an infant.
Family Group: Three: Private A. Maxwell, 9th (The Queen’s Royal) Lancers, who was killed in action during the Retreat from Mons on 30 August 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (3921 Pte. A. Maxwell. 9/Lrs.) ; British War and Victory Medals (L-3921 Pte. A. Maxwell. 9-Lrs.) nearly extremely fine Three: Private W. Maxwell, 9th (The Queen’s Royal) Lancers, who was wounded by shell-fire near Ypres on 9 May 1915 and died of wounds at Hazebrouck, Flanders, on 11 May 1915 1914 Star, with clasp (4492 Pte. W. Maxwell. 9/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-4492 Pte. W. Maxwell. 9-Lrs.) nearly extremely fine Pair: Warrant Officer Class II G. E. Maxwell, Lincolnshire Regiment, late Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) British War and Victory Medals (45489 W.O. Cl. 2 G. E. Maxwell. Linc. R.) good very fine (8) £400-£500 --- Arthur Maxwell was born in 1894 at Meanwood, Leeds, Yorkshire and attested for the 9th Lancers in 1912. He served with ‘A’ Squadron during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914 and was present with them at the time of their Charge at Audregnies on 24 August. Private A. Maxwell was killed in action on 30 August 1914. On this date, the 9th Lancers were at the the River Oise near Sempigny, France, providing cover for bridge demolition parties of the Royal Engineers: ‘30 August 1914 - Under Fire, 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers report “Bridges ready for demolition...during the demolition of the last bridge, a stone one over the river, Lt. Gourlay and party were fired on by Uhlans when at first they were on the far bank but subsequently crossed into Sempigny. The 9th Lancers were providing the covering party but did not detect the approaches of the enemy. The demolition party escaped on bikes and on 9th Lancers horses but two men were found missing. (believed dead as they were wounded)’ (extracted from report by Spr. J. E. Daniels in War Diary of 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers) He was the son of George Ernest and Margaret Maxwell of 9 Stainbeck Rd., Meanwood, Leeds and is buried in Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, France. William Maxwell, older brother of the above, was born in 1892 at Meanwood, Leeds and attested for the 9th Lancers at Leeeds in 1913. He served with ‘B’ Squadron during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914 and was present with them at the time of their Charge at Audregnies on 24 August. Private W. Maxwell was wounded on 9 May 1915 and died of wounds at Hazebrouck, Flanders, on 11 May 1915. On 9 May 1915 the 9th Lancers were heavily shelled on a march from Berthen to Vlammertinghe where they then occupied trenches in the Ypres Salient in the GHQ Line from from Potyze to Menin Road. The War Diary records 6 other ranks wounded on the march. George Ernest Maxwell, father of both of the above, was born in 1866 at Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire. He enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment in October 1884 and served over 12 years, of which 6 years - 1886 to 1892 - were in India. Discharged in 1896, he re-enlisted in the Royal Northern Reserve in 1900 and in January 1902 he attested for the Royal Garrison Regiment and was stationed in Nova Scotia from September 1902 to November 1905. He was promoted Sergeant in 1903 and Colour Sergeant in 1904 and transferred back to the West Yorkshire Regiment in the same rank in December 1905, serving until September 1907 at which time his time expired following the completion of 14 years colour service with the regiment. He served during the Great War from 5 October 1914 as Colour Sergeant in the 8th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and was appointed Company Sergeant Major on 30 January 1915. He transferred to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in March 1917 and embarked for France in April, transferring to the Labour Corps in May 1917. Colour Sergeant Maxwell was discharged in March 1919. Sold together with the following ephemera and paperwork: Relating to Arthur Maxwell: studio portrait photograph in uniform; Soldiers’ Small Book with War Office forwarding letter for same; Army Form B 104-82; Army Form B 104-45 and Army Form 47 to Colour Sergeant G. E. Maxwell regarding recipient’s effects; Buckingham Palace enclosure for Memorial Plaque; newspaper cutting. Relating to William Maxwell: portrait photograph in uniform (poor condition); Field Service Postcard sent to recipient’s father, dated 29 January 1915; Army form B. 104-45 (wounded in action notification); War Office Effects Form - No. 45; Army Form 104-81 from Cavalry Record Office (wounded in action notification).
Three: Private F. Rideout, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, who was killed in action during the Battle of La Bassée on 13 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (5967 [sic] Pte. F. Rideout. Dorset: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5987 Pte. F. Rideout. Dorset. R.) good very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Frederick Rideout was born in 1879 at Fontmell Magna, Dorset and attested for the Dorsetshire Regiment at Shaftesbury, Dorset in June 1899, with Regimental number 5987. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1914 and, following his battalion’s participation in the fighting at Mons (and the Retreat), the Marne and the Aisne, he was killed in action on 13 October 1914 during the Battle of La Bassée. On this date his battalion had been heavily engaged in fighting along the La Bassée Canal, advancing from positions along the Pont Fixe-La Plantin road and engaging the enemy in front of Givenchy. Over 400 officers and men were reported killed, wounded or missing in the fighting with the bodies of some 130 of the latter later being found by a burial party. Ray Westlake in British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 summarises a few incidents described in the regimental history that occurred during the fighting on 13 October 1914: ‘A number of Germans came forward from Givenchy carrying lances and were at first taken to be French cavalry. Another group, about a battalion, advanced with hands up as if to surrender. The battalion ceased fire in order to allow the men to come in, but upon reaching the Dorsetshire line, the Germans rushed their positions and opened fire. The history also notes how Lieutenant-Colonel Bols fought alongside of Lieutenant Pitt, the officers taking up rifles from the dead and firing into the oncoming enemy. The Colonel was wounded and subsequently taken prisoner. However, having been told to lie on a stretcher and wait to be attended by a doctor, he managed to escape back to his battalion at Pont Fixe.’ Private Rideout was the son of Henry and Mary Rideout of Fontmell Magna and, having no known grave, is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
Family group: Four: Captain Sir Edward A. Stewart-Richardson, Bart., 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), late Queensland Mounted Infantry, who died on 28 November 1914, from the effects of wounds received the previous month at Ypres Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901, the date clasp a tailor’s copy (Capt: Sir E. A. S. Richardson. Q’land M.I.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt Sir E. A. Stewart-Richardson. Bt: R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. Sir E. A. Stewart-Richardson. Bt.) nearly extremely fine Four: Major I. R. H. Stewart-Richardson, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, who was seriously wounded and Mentioned in Despatches for the Battle of the Campoleone Salient, Anzio, January 1944 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. Oak Leaf, with Army Council enclosure and Army Medal Office enclosure in card box of issue addressed to ‘Major Sir I. R. H. Stewart-Richardson, Lyndale, Longcross, Surrey’; together with the related four mounted miniature awards; King’s Badge in box of issue; and wartime issued smaller bronze M.I.D oak leaf emblems (2) to be worn on uniform, the last with War Office letter giving instructions for wearing, extremely fine The mounted group of six miniature dress medals attributed to Temporary Captain C. T. H. Richardson, M.C., Royal Field Artillery, who was decorated for gallantry at Tobruk, 1941 Military Cross, G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (lot) £2,000-£3,000 --- Sir Edward Austin Stewart-Richardson, 15th Baronet, the eldest son of Sir James Stewart-Richardson, 14th Bart., of Pentcaitland, Pitfour Castle, Perth, was born at Edinburgh on 24 July 1872 and was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire. In September 1890 he joined the 3rd Battalion, Royal Highlanders, being promoted Lieutenant in March 1892, and Captain in February 1900. From 1899 to 1902 he was A.D.C. to Lord Lamington, the Governor of Queensland. In the South African War he served with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch and with the Queensland Mounted Infantry, taking part in the operations in the Orange River Free State, including the action at Vet River, and in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Rhenoster River, Wittebergen, and Wittepoort, for which he received the Queen’s Medal with five clasps. On volunteering for service in the Great War, he was attached to the 1st Battalion of his old regiment, the Black Watch, arriving with them in France on 22 September 1914, and died in London on 28 November the same year, of wounds received at Gheluvelt on 27 October during the First Battle of Ypres. He had married Lady Constance Mackenzie, younger daughter of Francis, 2nd Earl of Cromartie, in 1904, and left two sons. (The Bond of Sacrifice by Col. L. A. Clutterbuck refers). Sir Ian Rorie Hay Stewart-Richardson, 16th Baronet, the eldest son of the above, was born on 25 September 1904 and was educated at the Imperial Service College, 1919-1922. Prior to the Second World War he travelled widely - adventures which are alluded to in the History of the Irish Guards in the Second World War by Major D. J. L. Fitzgerald, M.C.: ‘Then came Major Rory Stewart-Richardson. He was almost too cheerful. His large face, with sandy hair all over it, glowed, and he began to fill in the time by telling a familiar story of one of his macabre adventures in New Guinea. He had once, it seems, found a gold mine in some desolate jungle. “Unfortunately, my two companions died of fever on the way back,” it always ended, and he could never understand why everybody always laughed.’ Commissioned Second Lieutenant into the Irish Guards on 12 October 1939, he served with them during the Second World War initially in North Africa receiving promotion to War Substantive Lieutenant 12 April 1941, Temporary Captain 8 January 1942, War Substantive Captain 19 September 1942 and Temporary Major 19 September 1942. In command of No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion during Operation Shingle - the Allied amphibious landing at Anzio - his unit was among the first onto the beach on 22 January 1944. Meeting stronger than expected resistance in the attempted breakout and driven back to the beachhead, the 1st Irish Guards were involved in heavy fighting at Carroceto, 25-26 January 1944 repelling several enemy attacks and also experienced heavy casualties in the Battle of the Campoleone Salient, 30 January - 3 February 1944. Although inflicting heavy losses on the German forces, at Campoleone the 1st Irish Guards became surrounded and, confronting armour, were forced to fight their way back through to allied lines, Major Stewart-Richardson being among the wounded: ‘“When the companies got the order to withdraw,” wrote Major FitzGerald afterwards, “the situation was not very bright. We decided to take the obvious route back down the railway line. As we were quietly leaving our positions a German officer came running towards us flourishing a revolver. He was duly killed, but the shots attracted the attention of a nest of machine-gunners.” Whole belts of bullets swept across the open stretch of ground that lay between the sunken road and the nearest cutting on the railway line. Only a man who could run had any chance of surviving. The wounded were collected in the safest place, under the bridge over the sunken road. The remainder, under Major Rory Stewart-Richardson, made a dash for the embankment. “The Bren gun covering fire was not very effective, because of the long range and the number of German machine guns, and the companies received rather heavy casualties getting into the embankment. The Companies paused in the embankment while they prepared to fight their way back down the railway line. The only help they could get was smoke. Lieutenant Patrick Da Costa led off the first platoon. He was killed almost immediately and his platoon broken into small parties by a German attack. Lance-Corporal O’Brien took command of the largest fragment and brought them back to No. 4 Company by bounds. He himself, with a Bren gun, provided the covering for each bound, running the gauntlet every time to catch up with his party and cover them over the next stretch of open ground. The other platoons followed by slightly different routes. Lieutenant Stephen Preston was killed by machine-gun fire from the flank as he came out of the first railway cutting with the second platoon. Major Stewart Richardson, following behind, was wounded over the eye by a mortar fragment, but could still see enough to gather the platoon and return the Germans’ fire, while Lieutenant Bartlet, behind him, led his platoon slightly left down a gully. Lieutenant Brand, with the last platoon and Company H.Q., joined Major Stewart-Richardson and together they launched an attack down the railway line. It was a bloody little battle. Squads of Germans dotted along the railway, who had lain low during the night, now resisted savagely. The German mortars fired indiscriminately along the railway line. They did not seem to care whether or not they hit their own troops, but they must have done, and they certainly killed and wounded numbers of Guardsmen. The German 88-mm. guns by the cross-roads joined in firing air bursts. Through this turmoil of mixed fire, over the bodies of their friends who had been killed the night before, the Guardsmen attacked post after post, driving the Germans back before them into the waiting arms and muzzles of No. 4 Company. Slightly less than half of the two companies who had set out the previous night reached No. 4 Company that ...
An outstanding Great War 1918 ‘Battle of Epehy’ D.C.M., 1917 ‘Battle of Cambrai’ M.M. and 1918 ‘Western Front’ Second Award Bar, Belgian Croix de Guerre group of six awarded to Sergeant F. L. Livings, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, an ‘Old Contemptible’ who was bombed, bayoneted, shot and gassed during the course of his distinguished service on the Western Front Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (23186 Sjt: F. Livings. M.M. 9/Essex R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (23186 Cpl.-Sjt: - F. Livings. 9/Essex R.); 1914 Star, with clasp (7433 Pte. F. Livings. 2/Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (7433 Sjt. F. Livings. Essex R.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, good very fine (6) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919, citation published 10 January 1920: ‘For most conspicuous gallantry and initiative. On 24th September, 1918, the enemy made a determined attack on our positions east of Epehy, and succeeded in entering our trench. He immediately collected a few men with bombs and a Lewis gun and rushed forward, bombing the enemy, who fled towards their own line. He thereupon seized the Lewis gun and advanced along the parapet, firing on the enemy, who left a machine gun and thirteen dead.’ M.M. London Gazette 19 March 1918. M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 12 June 1918. Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918. Frederick Louis Livings was born on 8 January 1888 at North Weald, Essex, and attested for the Essex Regiment on 2 January 1903 at Warley, Essex, declaring himself to be aged 18 years and 11 months. He deserted in September 1903 and, following conviction, forfeited his prior service and recommenced his service from 15 October 1903. Livings served with the 2nd Battalion in Malta from April 1904 to March 1906, where he was hospitalised with enteric and continued to be the subject of regular entries in the Regimental Defaulter Sheet, his catalogue of offences ranging from neglect of equipment and absenteeism to drunkenness and insolence. Returning home he was transferred to the Section B Reserve on 14 October 1906 having completed 3 years of qualifying service and yet still only 18 years of age. Mobilised for duty in 1914 following the outbreak of war, Livings disembarked on 24 August at Havre, France with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment. He was appointed Acting Corporal on 4 September 1914 and Acting Sergeant on 21 October 1914 seeing action with his battalion at Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne and Messines during the opening months of the war. On 13 May 1915 he received bayonet wounds to the stomach and a gun-shot wound to the left thigh during the 2nd Battalion’s successful counter-attack near St. Jean on a 1000 yard frontage of front line from Shelltrap Farm to Fortuin-Weltje Road. John Burrows in his history of the 2nd Essex records how, ‘within ten minutes (8.30am) A and B Companies moved forward, the attack being splendidly carried out in quick time and marked by great dash and determination. Subjected to shrapnel and high explosive shell-fire, they reached the ridge, when heavy machine gun fire swept them, but they never faltered. Within 300 yards of the objective the men charged at the double. The counter-attack of the Essex was carried out in full view of the London Rifle Brigade, who stood up in their trenches to cheer as the Pompadours went forward. The casualties were 37 killed, 94 wounded and 49 missing.’ Hospitalised at Versailles and then repatriated via Hospital Ship to England, he was discharged to light duty with the 3rd Battalion and underwent an operation to extract shrapnel from his abdomen in November 1915. Upon recovery, Livings rejoined his regiment with the B.E.F., disembarking in Boulogne on 20 July 1917. Posted to the 9th Battalion, he proceeded to the front and joined his battalion for duty on 16 August. He was promoted Sergeant (A Company) on 11 December 1917, immediately after his battalion’s participation in the Battle of Cambrai and was awarded the Military Medal, his M.M. being published in an edition of the gazette which almost exclusively carried awards for the Cambrai operations. The battalion war diary’s report of their attack on the Hindenburgh Line on 20 November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai emphasises the difficult work carried out by A Company, of which Livings was a Platoon Sergeant, and contains the following extracts: ‘On 20 November 1917 the Battalion, in conjunction with many other troops, took part in a large attack on the Hindenburgh Line in co-operation with tanks. One company of tanks, i.e. 12 tanks, were allotted to the battalion for the operation. All 4 companies were in the first wave. Our objective was two line of trenches in front of the Hindenburgh Line known as Bleak Trench and Barrack Support. Zero was set for 6.30am. At zero-10 the tanks started and a heavy barrage was put down on all the enemy trenches and batteries. All Companies after this delay [initially some tanks became stuck] reached and consolidated their objectives. Many Boches were killed or captured and in addition a vast supply of all kinds of ammunition and stores including heavy mortar, two medium, three heavy M.G.s and two light light ones and several grenaten-werfer. The Boche made no immediate counter attack. ‘A’ Company under Captain Capper had the most difficult consolidation but this was well carried out by this officer.’ A few months later Livings received a Second Award Bar to his M.M and the Belgian Croix de Guerre; these awards are likely to have been made in connection with the 9th Battalion’s robust defence of the line at Albert, 26 March - 9 April, during the German Spring Offensive on the Somme. Severely wounded in the field on 13 July 1918, he was hospitalised for some time at Rouen and rejoined his Battalion on 9 September. On 24 September 1918, during the Battle of Epehy, Sergeant Livings repulsed a German attack on the Battalion’s trenches and was recognised with the award of the D.C.M. The uncensored post war citation revealing the date and place of the action. The Battalion war diary for the day in question adds further detail: ‘At 3am the enemy again attempted to take our front line in the vicinity of Heythorp Post and Little Preill Farm. One battalion of the 3rd Guards Division advanced on our trenches and entered them between the posts, Sgt. Livings of ‘A’ Company with 2 or 3 men ejected them causing many casualties to the enemy’. Badly wounded again on 28 September, he was admitted to a field hospital with severe bomb wounds to the head, face and right thigh. He returned to England once more on 2 October 1918 to recover and was discharged from hospital on 14 October, returning to light duty once more. Sergeant Livings was discharged on the termination of his period of engagement on 31 March 1920, his pension accounting for service aggravated deafness, abdominal gunshot wounds, gunshot wounds to left thigh, concussion, bomb wounds and shortness of breath caused by mustard gas. He died in 1976 at Poplar, London.
Three: Corporal W. Mitchell, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, who was killed in action on the Aisne on 13 September 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (7309 Cpl. W. Mitchell. 2/Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (7309 Cpl. W. Mitchell. Essex R.); Memorial Plaque (William Mitchell) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- William Mitchell was born in Cambridge in 1886 and attested there for the Essex Regiment in November 1902. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1914 and was killed in action at the crossing of the Aisne on 13 September 1914: ‘On September 13th, in pouring rain, the Battalion crossed the Aisne. They left the bivouac at 7 a.m., the unit being ordered to march via Billy-sur-Aisne and Venizel to Ste. Marguerite. After an hour’s rest, Venizel was reached at 9 a.m and the Battalion was temporarily halted in column in a field by the roadside, in readiness for crossing first the railroad and then the river bridge. The girders of the latter had been cut, but the reinforced concrete of the roadway was strong enough to take infantry. Whilst waiting to pass over, enemy shell-fire was active and the machine gun teams had a number of casualties, heavier losses being avoided because one of the companies had just moved to shelter in a sunken road... The Pompadours, after crossing, traversed the two miles of water meadows to Bucy-le-Long in extended order, ten paces interval, at 100 yards distance, and though the shell-fire was heavy, the casualties were slight. “ D ” Company brought up the rear... The Essex were ordered to cover an attack upon Chivres trenches by the Lancashire Fusiliers. The effort was not successful owing to heavy fire from the south of Chivres village and the western slopes of the Chivres spur. The Pompadours then held the high ground north of Ste. Marguerite, with their right thrown back along the eastern side of the wood before-mentioned. There they dug in and remained for the night, Lancashire Fusiliers on the right and the King’s Own on the left. The position possessed elements of anxiety owing to enemy activity and for a time small arms ammunition ran short, but this danger was relieved at 6.25 p.m., when three cart-loads were received. The casualties were light, comprising ten killed and 32 wounded.’ (Essex Units in the Great War 1914-1919 Vol 2. 2nd Bn. The Essex Regt. by John Wm. Burrows, F.S.A.) He was the son of John Mitchell and husband of Maud Elizabeth Alice Thomas (formerly Mitchell) of 6 Stone Terrace, Stone St., Cambridge. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Sold together with Record Office transmission letter (torn) for the British War and Victory Medals.
Three: Shoeing Smith W. H. Saward, 9th (The Queen’s Royal) Lancers, who died of wounds at Longueval on the Western Front on 29 September 1914 1914 Star (4157 S. Sth: W. Saward. 9/Lrs.) in flattened named card box of issue; British War and Victory Medals (L-4157 Pte. W. H. Saward. 9-Lrs.) both in flattened named card boxes of issue; Memorial Place (William Henry Saward) in card envelope and outer envelope addressed to ‘Mr. W. H. Saward. 5 Ingleside Place, Safron Weldon, Essex.’, extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- William Henry Saward was born in 1894 at Plumstead, Kent and attested for the 9th Lancers at Hertford in 1912, serving with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914. In the early weeks of the war, his regiment were present at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne and were also involved in a number of notable minor engagements. Captain Francis Grenfell and a party of the 9th Lancers saved the guns of 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 24 August 1914 near Doubon. For this action, and the charging of the unbroken line of infantry at Audregnies, Belgium on the same day, Captain Grenfell was awarded one of the first Victoria Crosses of the Great War. The regiment also participated in the final ‘lance against lance’ action involving British cavalry of the Great War on 7 September 1914 at Moncel during the Battle of the Marne in which Lieutenant Colonel David Campbell led a charge of two troops of B Squadron and overthrew a squadron of the Prussian Dragoons of the Guard. Shoeing Smith Saward died of wounds on 29 September 1914. On this date a German coal box shell landed amongst two troops of the regiment as they dispersed from stables at Longeuval causing many casualties: ‘It was dinner time and we were dispersing from stables when one of their coal boxes dropped right in the middle of the yard and put out nearly two troops of us. Up to then we had nothing but a couple of spare shells, and you get so used to them you take little notice. These big ones, coal boxes as we call them, come whistling along and you get about a second’s notice, so that if you are lucky you have time to duck. But that is pure luck. I heard the whistle and dived between two horses. Then came the explosion, and when I realised where I was afterwards I felt as if a horse had kicked me in the back. When I looked round I saw 13 of our men killed and 11 wounded, two so badly that they died afterwards. About twenty horses were killed, but my old horse stood there grazing as quietly as if nothing happened. The sergeant at one side of me was knocked out, and the man on the other was killed as clean as whistle. After that they shelled the cemetery where we were burying our dead, and that brought our casualties up to 45.’ (letter written by an unidentified Private of the 9th Lancers from Aberdeen, printed in the Lincolnshire Echo, 9 October 1914.) Saward was the son of William Henry and Alice Lewis Saward of 5 Ingleside Place, High St., Saffron Walden, Essex. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Sold with two newspaper cuttings relating to Captain F. Grenfell’s V.C. action in August 1914.
Three: Private A. Johnson, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, who was killed in action near Armentières, during the First Battle of Ypres, on 22 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (7116 Pte. A. Johnson. 2/Essex R.) in partially flattened named card box of issue and outer OHMS transmission envelope addressed to ‘Mrs. A. L. Palmer, 49 Cramphorn Road, Chelmsford’; British War and Victory Medals (7116 Pte. A. Johnson. Essex R.) in partially flattened named card box of issue and outer OHMS envelope, similarly addressed; Memorial Plaque (Archibald Johnson) in inner envelope and outer card envelope with Buckingham Palace enclosure, extremely fine (4) £200-£240 --- Archibald Johnson was born at Shoreditch, Middlesex and attested for the Essex Regiment at Romford, Essex in 1902. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 September 1914 and was killed in action on the final day of the First Battle of Ypres, 22 November 1914, during a period when his battalion was occupying trenches between Warnave and Touquet, near Armentières. His sole legatee was James Richard Palmer of Cramphorn Road, Chelmsford and, having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Sold together with transmittal letters for the clasp to the 1914 Star and the Victory Medal.
An important 1914 ‘Le Cateau’ D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-General Sir B. F. Burnett-Hitchcock K.C.B., Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), who, whilst a Captain on the Staff of the 4th Division, was decorated for gallantry in rallying disordered troops and leading them against the enemy at Haucourt, 26 August 1914 - seven times Mentioned in Despatches for the Great War, he subsequently rose to command the 55th (West Lancs) Division and the Deccan District (4th Indian Division) Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (Capt. B. F. Burnett-Hitchcock, Derby: Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt: B. Burnett-Hitchcock Notts: & Derby: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Brig. Gen. B. F. Burnett Hitchcock.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, chip to white enamel; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, Officer’s breast badge, gold, silver-gilt, and enamel, slight enamel damage; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze palm, nearly extremely fine unless stated (8) £5,000-£7,000 --- Provenance: Sotheby’s, July 1975 (when sold together with K.C.B. Knight Commander’s badge and breast star). K.C.B. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1932. C.B. (Military) London Gazette 1 January 1918: ‘For services rendered in connection with the war’ D.S.O. London Gazette 9 December 1914: ‘On 26th August, at Haucourt, France, for gallantry in rallying troops in disorder and leading them against the enemy, thereby ensuring an orderly evacuation of the village.’ French Legion of Honour London Gazette 3 November 1914: ‘For gallantry during the Operations between 21st and 30th August 1914’ Italian Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus London Gazette 1 April 1919. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 9 April 1920. M.I.D. London Gazettes 19 October 1914; 17 February 1915; 1 January 1916; 15 June 1916; 4 January 1917; 15 May 1917; 12 February 1918 Basil Ferguson Burnett-Hitchcock was born on 3 March 1877, at Chatham, son of the late Colonel T. Burnett-Hitchcock, of Week Manor, Winchester, Hants, and Amelia Burnett-Hitchcock. Educated at Harrow and Sandhurst (Sword of Honour, Anson Memorial Sword, 1st passing out), he made two first-class appearances for Hampshire in the 1896 Country Championship before being commissioned Second Lieutenant into the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on 20 February 1897. Promoted Lieutenant on 12 April 1898, he served during the Boer War in South Africa, 1899-1901, with the 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, Mounted Infantry, and on the Staff, taking part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May, 1900; in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900; also in Cape Colony 1899-1900; again during operations in Orange River Colony and Cape Colony 30 November 1900 to February 1901 (Queen’s Medal with three clasps). Advanced Captain 12 March, 1901, he attended Staff College, 1903-4 and was was Staff Captain, Eastern Command, 1905-9; General Staff Officer, 2nd Grade, Bermuda, 1910-12 and Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General, 4th Division, Eastern Command in 1912. Great War - The 4th Division at the Battle of Le Cateau On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Burnett-Hitchcock, whilst still a Captain in the 2nd Sherwood Foresters, was Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General on the Staff of General T. D’O. Snow’s 4th Division. Although initially held back in England to counter any German landing, the division was soon despatched to France, arriving just in time to play a valuable part in the retreat from Mons. At Le Havre, the 4th Division (10th, 11th and 12th Brigades with light artillery) entrained for Le Cateau from where, on 25th August, it marched to Solesmes to cover the retirement of II Corps after the Battle of Mons. Having arrived at Solesmes amid chaotic scenes of retreating British soldiers and long lines of civilian refugees, the wet and weary 4th Division fell back through the villages of Briastre and Le Coquelet before coming under the command of II Corps just as General Smith-Dorrien decided to make his stand in the rolling country around Le Caudry, to the west of Le Cateau - Smith Dorrien declaring, ‘"Very well, gentlemen, we will fight, and I will ask General Snow to act under me as well." Smith-Dorrien’s decision to fight this important delaying rearguard action may well have saved the British from destruction by the massive German onslaught during the general Allied retreat following sustained German successes at the four Battles of the Frontiers. The location, a long ridge running west-east with Le Cateau at its eastern end, was far from ideal. The ground was soft, so easy for the troops to dig in, but it lacked cover, was dominated by a German-held ridge to the north and, worst of all, both flanks were open. The situation on the right flank, the hills around the Le Cateau valley, was perilous from the start, as the Germans infiltrated during the night. The west, held by 4th Division, was absolutely vulnerable to flanking movements designed to encircle II Corps. Snow now set up his Division HQ at the village of Haucourt with 12th Brigade further forward on the left near Esnes and Longsart and 11th Brigade forward to the right in front of Ligny. 10th Brigade remained in reserve around Haucourt. Wilson's 12th Brigade was attacked in force early on 26 August and suffered heavy casualties, but managed to rally and held the extreme left of the British line until the B.E.F. was able to retreat. The 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment suffered in particular. Surprised just as breakfast was being served, they came under heavy machine gun and artillery fire. The battalion was nearly destroyed as a fighting unit, the commanding officer and many others being killed, with many more wounded or taken prisoner of war. Meanwhile, Hunter-Weston’s 11th Brigade spent most of the day desperately holding the position in front of Ligny while coming under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. A feature of the fighting being the greater respect shown by the Germans for British rifle prowess than at Mons where they had suffered heavy casualties. One unfortunate consequence of 4th Division’s rapid deployment to France was that it lacked a Signal Company (as well as cavalry, cyclists and Royal Engineers) to provide its commander and his brigadiers with the information necessary to control their units. Burnett-Hitchcock’s employment as a messenger for General Snow during the early part of the Battle is documented in a statement published by Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Mainwaring, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 10th Infantry Brigade at Le Cateau (Mainwaring and Lieut. Col. Elkington, 1st Royal Warwickshires were notoriously cashiered out of the service for cowardice at St. Quentin just days after Le Cateau.): ‘During the first part of the action I received two messages from the divisional staff, both verbal, and sent the one already referred to above to the 10th Brigade, in which I described our positions. The first was delivered by the A.D.C. to the G.O.C. IV Division. Captain Allfrey said to me, “The General says he wishes you to hold on here to the end.” Then, turning in his saddle, he added, “General Snow told me to say that this is a personal me...
Three: Lance-Corporal J. H. Barnes, 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), later Army Cyclist Corps, who was killed in action whilst attempting to carry a despatch through the German lines at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 9 March 1915 1914 Star, with copy clasp (11076 Pte. J. H. Barnes. 1/Notts: & Derby: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11076 Pte. J. H. Barnes. Notts & Derby. R.) with O.H.M.S. outer envelope addressed to ‘Mr. J. Barnes, Clapgun Street, Castle Donington, Nr Derby.’; Memorial Plaque (James Henry Barnes) in card envelope, good very fine (4) £240-£280 --- James Henry Barnes was born in 1890 at Castle Donington, Leicestershire and was a Motor Engineer by occupation prior to attesting for the Sherwood Foresters at Nottingham on 13 January 1909. He served with the 1st Battalion in India from October 1909 until called home in October 1914 to fight in the Great War. He served in France with the 1st Battalion from 4 November 1914 and was appointed Paid Lance Corporal In the Field on 11 November 1914. Having transferred to the 8th Divisional Company, Army Cyclist Corps, as a despatch rider, on 8 January 1915, he was killed in action on 9 March 1915: ‘He was the only man to volunteer to carry a despatch through the German lines during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Although warned of the great danger, he was willing to take the risk and was killed when within 100 yards of the German lines.’ (Newspaper cutting with lot). Lance Corporal Barnes was the eldest son of James and Rhoda Barnes of Clapgun Street, Castle Donington. James Barnes senior had himself served in the army as a Bandsman for 12 years, including during the First Boer War, when ‘he was one of the first to respond to the call for volunteers from his regiment, the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, for the assault on Majuba Hill.’ Barnes has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France, although a hand-written Red Cross note with the lot states ‘He was buried 100 yards south of the cross roads, which lie south of Chapigny near Aubers in Flanders. It is on the Battlefield marked Square M.29 b.7.6.’ Sold also with the following items: a hand-written note from Corporal W. Evans, 1384, 8th Divisional Cyclist Corps, dated 16 March 1915: ‘Herewith please find the personal effects of 1385 L Cpl J. Barnes, please acknowledge receipt and oblige. Yours sincerely.’; an empty Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Tin; a photograph of the recipient’s father, 72mm x 107mm; an embroidered depiction of a cenotaph with flags and wreaths, on black background, cotton, 65 cm x 65 cm, with the words, ‘In loving memory of James H. Barnes. Killed in action March 12, 1915. Aged 26 years. R.I.P.’; various newspaper cuttings and copied research.
Three: Private J. Paradise, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in the attack at Troyon, during the battle of the Aisne, on 14 September 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (9397 Pte. J. Paradise. L. N. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (9397 Pte. J. Paradise. L. N. Lan. R.); Memorial Plaque (John Paradise) nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- John Paradise was born in 1891 at Hammersmith, Middlesex and attested for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Dover, Kent in 1908. He served with ‘B’ Company in the 1st Battalion as part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 August 1914 and was killed in action in the attack at Troyon on 14 September 1914 - a day of bitter fighting sometimes referred to as the ‘real battle of the Aisne’. On this day, Haig’s immediate objective was the Chemin Des Dames above Troyon and, to this end, the 2nd Brigade were tasked with taking the sugar factory at the crossroads north of Troyon. Here the Germans has established a strong position with many machine guns in enfilading lines of fire and with formidable artillery to the rear: ‘This was at 10.30am on the 14th, and two and a half companies of the Battalion were sent up the right of the 2nd King’s Royal Rifles, one company was ordered to support the Royal Sussex, the remining half-company being held in reserve at Vendresse. The position was reached, the factory carried and held; but the enemy was in great strength and counter attacked heavily, while the Battalion ammunition began to run out, and the 2nd Brigade was ordered to fall back to the ridge previously occupied, arriving there about 3pm and ‘digging in’. The losses incurred this day by the Battalion, in this its first general action of the war, amounted to fourteen officers and over 500 non-commissioned officers and men killed, wounded and missing, and in “B” Company alone three officers out of five and 175 out of 220 other ranks were casualties.’ (Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1914-1919 by Colonel H. C. Wylie refers) Private Troyon was initially reported wounded and missing on 14 September 1914 and only later confirmed killed in action on this date. He was the husband of Harriet Paradise and is buried in Vendresse British Cemetery, France. Sold together with a photo of the recipient’s headstone and three photos of the Vendresse British Cemetery.
Four: Corporal J. Freeman, 8th (Service) Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder and hand during the German attack on Vimy Ridge on 21 May 1916, during which action Lieutenant R. B. B. Jones, of the same Battalion, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross 1914-15 Star (15597 Cpl. J. Freeman. L. N. Lan. R.); British War and Victory Medals (15597 Cpl. J. Freeman. L. N. Lan. R.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (John Freeeman) good very fine (4) £80-£120 --- John Freeman was born in 1880 at Garston, Liverpool and attested for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Seaforth, Liverpool on 10 September 1914. Posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion, he was promoted Corporal on 1 October 1914 and served on the Western Front from 25 September 1915. Whilst serving with B Company, during the battalion’s first action - in defence of the German attack on Vimy Ridge on 21 May 1916 - he received gunshot wounds to the shoulder and hand and was invalided to England. Lieutenant R. B. B. Jones, of the same battalion, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for gallantry at Vimy on 21 May 1916. A digest of his citation reads: ‘On 21st May 1916 at Broadmarsh Crater, Vimy, France, Lieutenant Jones was in charge of a platoon holding the position recently captured from the enemy. Forty yards away the enemy exploded a mine and isolated the platoon by a heavy barrage of fire. Being attacked by overwhelming numbers, the platoon was in great danger, but Lieutenant Jones organised his men and set a fine example by shooting 15 of the enemy as they advanced. When all his ammunition had been used, he was about to throw a bomb when he was shot through the head.’ Corporal Freeman was transferred to the 2/2 Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment and permanently discharged on 13 June 1917 in consequence of further aggravating an old knee injury and no longer being physically fit for war service. He was awarded a Silver War Badge. Sold with the recipient’s discharge certificate and an original hand written letter sent to the recipient on 27 May 1916 from 4285 Sgt. Horrocks, B Company, 8th Loyal North Lancs., which opens as follows: ‘Dear Jack I was very glad last night to hear that a letter had been received from you as I have wondered many times whether you had arrived safely at the dressing station or not. I ought really to have sent someone with you but as you know we had not many men left when you got wounded and I could not spare a chap to help you along. I want to thank you personally Jack for the brave manner in which you behaved and for the splendid example you set the men under heavy shell fire and each and all of us agree that you were about the coolest and most collected man of the party. After you got hit we kept plodding on till the following morning when we were relieved and sent back to pylines for a sleep though the party had altered very much in numbers for we started with 42 and left with about 16 most of whom have since left us and gone to hospital with shell shock.’
Three: Private F. Henley, 9th (The Queen’s Royal) Lancers, who died of wounds as a Prisoner of War at Munster, Germany, on 9 November 1914 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (1119 Pte. F. Henley. 9/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-1119 Pte. F. Henley. 9-Lrs.) contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £160-£200 --- Frank Henley was born at Brighton, Sussex and resided at Canterbury, Kent prior to attesting for the 9th Lancers (Queen’s Royal) at Hurstpierpoint. He was stationed with the 9th Lancers at Lydd Camp, Kent in 1911, aged 24 years, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914. He was wounded in action and captured in the opening period of the war, and died of his wounds on 9 November 1914 whilst a prisoner of war at Munster, Germany. In the early weeks of the war, the 9th Lancers were present at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne and were also involved in a number of notable minor engagements. Captain Francis Grenfell and a party of the 9th saved the guns of 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 24 August 1914 near Doubon. For this action, and the charging of the unbroken line of infantry at Audregnies, Belgium on the same day, Captain Grenfell was awarded one of the first Victoria Crosses of the Great War. The regiment also participated in the final ‘lance against lance’ action involving British cavalry of the Great War on 7 September 1914 at Moncel during the Battle of the Marne in which Lieutenant Colonel David Campbell led a charge of two troops of B Squadron and overthrew a squadron of the Prussian Dragoons of the Guard. Frank Henley was the husband of Rosina Bigg (formerly Henley) of 50 Old Ruttington Lane, Canterbury and is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany.
Family Group: Three: Private C. Coyne, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who died of wounds whilst a prisoner of war on 24 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (3-9783 Pte. C. Coyne. 1/North’n R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-9783 Pte. C. Coyne. North’n. R.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Coyne); Memorial Scroll (Private Charles Coyne, Northamptonshire Regt.) in OHMS transmission tube, addressed to ‘Mrs Coyne, 287 Walpole St., Peterborough.’ nearly extremely fine Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (John Coyne, 9th October 1883. (Duplicate.)) with integral top riband buckle, good very fine (6) £300-£400 --- Charles Coyne was born in 1895 in March, Cambridgeshire. Originally enlisted into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, he was called to the colours on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 September 1914. He died of wounds on 24 November 1914, aged 19 years, whilst being held as a prisoner of war. His heavily depleted Battalion had witnessed fierce fighting during First Ypres at Pilckem Ridge, Bodmin Copse and Shrewsbury Forest, and came out of the line on 15th November with 350 ranks and five officers commanded by a Special Reserve Subaltern. He was the son of John and Louisa Coyne of 287 Walpole Street, New England, Peterborough and is buried in Tourcoing (Pont-Neuville) Communal Cemetery, France. Sold together with Army Form B. 104-82, informing the recipient’s father of the death of his son, dated 24 April 1915. John Coyne, father of the above, was born in March, Cambridgeshire in 1865. He was employed as an 18 year old Parcel Postman at the time of the award of his Royal Humane Society Medal: ‘R.H.S. Case No. 22176: ‘John Coyne, at great personal risk, rescued Mrs Vanson from drowning in the river March, Cambridge, on 9 October 1883. Bronze medal.’ The rescue of Mrs Vanson, aged 73, took place at noon when an omnibus in which the old lady was travelling had backed into the river due to restlessness of the horses. A duplicate medal was issued to Coyne on repayment as his original medal was lost.
Three: Private A. J. Payne, 1st Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), who was killed in action near Zonnebeke during the First Battle of Ypres on 26 October 1914 1914 Star (7378 Pte. A. J. Payne. 1/R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7378 Pte. A. J. Payne. R. Berks. R.) contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Albert James Payne was born at Compton, Berkshire, and attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment at Reading in September 1903. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 September 1914 and was killed in action on 26 October 1914. On this date, his battalion were in support of an attack by the 1st King’s Liverpool Regiment to clear the remaining Germans from Molenaarenshoek, 1 mile south-east of Zonnebeke, after which they continued their advance up the Becelaere Road. He was the son of David and Martha Payne and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Three: Private R. A. S. Beck, 13th Hussars, attached 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars, who was killed in action during the First Battle of Ypres on 29 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (1174 Private R. A. S. Beck. 11/Hrs:) with damaged named card box of issue and outer O.H.M.S. transmission envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs. C. Beck, 13, Pratt Street, Lambeth Road, London, S.E.11.’; British War and Victory Medals (1174 Pte. R. A. S. Beck. 11-Hrs.); Memorial Plaque (Roland Archibald Stephen Beck) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card envelope and outer O.H.M.S. transmission envelope similarly addressed, extremely fine (4) £260-£300 --- Roland Archibald Stephen Beck was born in 1886 at Battersea, Surrey, the son of Isaac George and Constantia Beck. He attested for the 13th Hussars and in 1911 was stationed with them at Meerut, India. During the Great War, he served on the Western Front from 8 October 1914, attached to the 11th Hussars, and was recorded ‘presumed dead’ on 29 October 1914, the opening day of the battle of Gheluvelt, during the First Battle of Ypres. He was later confirmed to have been killed in action on this date and having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Sold together with named Cavalry Record Office enclosure for the 1914 Star, named Record Office enclosure for the British War and Victory Medals; O.H.M.S. receipt enclosure for 1914 Star clasp and note explaining reasons for non-issuance of roses.
Three: Sergeant S. F. Blundell, 2nd Battalion, later 11th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action in the attack on Observation Ridge, during the First Battle of the Scarpe, on 9 April 1917 1914 Star (L-13101 Pte. S. Blundell. 2/Middx: R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-13101 Sjt. S. Blundell. Midd’x R.); Memorial Plaque (Sidney Blundell) the Star somewhat polished, otherwise very fine (4) £200-£240 --- Sidney Frederick Blundell was born in 1893 at Islington, London and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Mill Hill on 21 September 1910 having previously served 5 months in the 5th Middlesex Regiment Special Reserve. Posted to the 2nd Battalion on 1 December 1910, he then served with the 1st Battalion in Aden from November 1912 until December 1913. This was followed by a posting to Malta with the 2nd Battalion until September 1914. Blundell served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 November 1914 and was invalided to England having suffered a scalp wound on 9 January 1915, whilst in trenches north of Neuve Chapelle in the Rue de Bacquerot sector. On 29 June, his wounds sufficiently healed, he was posted back to France to join the 11th (Service) Battalion of his Regiment and was promoted Corporal on 8 March 1916 and Sergeant on 9 August 1916. He suffered a gun shot wound to the right leg on 10 October 1916 during the Battle of Le Transloy Ridges, where the battalion moved up to the front line on 7 October and incurred heavy casualties under sustained shelling. Blundell was killed in action in France on 9 April 1917 during the 36th Brigade’s attack on Observation Ridge at the First Battle of the Scarpe. The War Diary of the 11th Battalion stating: ‘The Battalion went over the top as practised on the training ground. The Artillery work was splendid and never really gave the Bosche a chance. Our fellows took full advantage of the different barrages and quickly captured the objectives i.e., the Black Line (Hertford Trench).’ The losses during the day were 6 officers and approximately 100 other ranks killed, wounded and missing. He was the son of Mrs Laura Ann Blundell, of 103 Tollington Rd., Holloway, London and having no known grave is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. Sold together with the recipient’s Soldier’s Small book; Army Form B. 104-82, dated 28 April 1917, informing the recipient’s mother of his death; Record Office transmittal letter for British War and Victory Medals; and the recipient’s brother’s August 1919 death certificate.
The historically important 1914 Star awarded to Private J. Parr, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action near Mons on 21 August 1914 - believed to be the first British soldier to be killed in action during the Great War 1914 Star, with copy clasp (L-14196 Pte. J. Parr. 4/Midd’x R.) nearly extremely fine £1,800-£2,200 --- John Parr was born in 1897 at Finchley, Middlesex, the son of Edward and Alice Parr and, having left his job as a caddie at North Middlesex Golf Club, attested for the Middlesex Regiment in 1912, aged 15 years. Following the outbreak of the Great War, still aged just 17, he embarked for France with the 4th Battalion of his regiment as part of the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division, arriving in France among the first units of the British Expeditionary Force on 14 August 1914. On 21 August, as the forward units of the British Army approached Mons and suspected some proximity to the advancing Germans, Parr, in his role as a reconnaissance cyclist, together with another cyclist, was sent forward towards the village of Obourg, north-east of Mons, to locate the German positions. It is thought that Parr and his fellow cyclist then encountered an Uhlan patrol from the German First Army and that Parr was killed in an exchange of fire whilst holding off the enemy in an attempt to allow his companion to return and report their findings. The precise circumstances of Parr’s death are not entirely clear; however, he is considered to be, and recorded as, the first British Army soldier to have been killed in action during the Great War. On 23 August, as the British Army began its long retreat following the Battle of Mons, Parr’s body was left behind and his death was not to be confirmed by the British War Office until much later. His body was buried by the Germans in a battlefield grave which was subsequently located by the Imperial War Graves Commission and he now lies buried in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, near Mons, Belgium. Symbolically, his grave is opposite that of George Edwin Ellison, 5th Royal Irish Lancers, who was killed in action on 11 November 1918, and is thought to be the last British soldier to be killed in action during the Great War.
Three: Private J. Cokley, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was posted missing, presumed killed in action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front 1914 Star, with clasp (L-6498 Pte. J. Cokley. 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-8498 Pte. J. Cokley. Midd’x R.) toned, nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- John Cokley was born at Poplar, Middlesex and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Stratford, Essex in 1903. He served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 and was present at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’ However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken Prisoner of War. Like many men of the B.E.F. killed at Mons, Cokley was initially reported only as being missing on 23 August 1914. After the war the Army Council finally concluded that he had died on (or since) that date and he is recorded by the CWGC as having died on 23 August 1914. He was the husband of Lilian May Cokley and, having no known grave, is commemorated on La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Sold together with the recipient’s daughter’s marriage certificate, dated 26 March 1932; War Office Effect’s Form No. 45, dated 30 May 1923, acquainting the recipient’s wife with a sum of money from the recipient’s brother’s estate, the latter (William Coakley) having been killed serving with the 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, in October 1917; Army Form B. 104-82A, dated 3 June 1919 informing the recipient’s wife of the Army Council’s decision to conclude that her husband was dead and that his death had occurred on 23 August 1914 (or since).
Three: Private E. J. Simmonds, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front 1914 Star, with clasp (L-9431 Pte. E. J. Simmonds. 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-9431 Pte. E. J. Simmonds. Midd’x R.); Memorial Plaque (Edward James Simmonds) all mounted within a contemporary frame, good very fine or better (4) £300-£400 --- Edward James Simmonds was born in 1884, at Islington, Middlesex and attested for the Middlesex Regiment in London in 1904. Following the outbreak of the Great War he was mobilized from the reserve at Mill Hill on 5 August 1914 and served with the 4th Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. He was killed in action at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’ However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of War. Like many men of the B.E.F. killed at Mons, Private Simmonds was initially reported only as being missing on 23 August 1914. His presumptive death ‘on or about’ that date was confirmed the following year however, on the evidence of Private W. Greenhill, an exchanged prisoner of war. He was the husband of Margaret Mary Ann Simmonds of 27 Tiber Road, Caledonian Road, London, and is buried in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium. Sold together with an enlarged painted oval photograph of the recipient in a card mount.
Three: Private H. E. Speller, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front 1914 Star, with copy clasp (L-14083 Pte. H. E. Speller. 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-14083 Pte. H. E. Speller. Midd’x R.) good very fine (3) £240-£280 --- Horace Edward Speller was born in 1895 at Enfield Wash, Middlesex and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Ponders End, Middlesex in 1912. He served with B Company in the 4th Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Speller’s “B” Company covering Lock No. 5 to Nimy on the left, was one of two Companies placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey [commanding B Company], whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’ However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of War. Private Speller was the son of Mrs. Annie Speller, of 13, King Edward's Road, Ponders End, Middlesex and is buried in St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium.
The 1914 Star awarded to Private C. Lurie, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action at Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front 1914 Star (L-8687 Pte. C. Lurie. 4/Midd’x R.) good very fine £120-£160 --- Charles Lurie was born in 1885 at Shoreditch, Middlesex and attested for the Middlesex Regiment in London on 7 March 1903. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he embarked from Southampton with the 4th Battalion as part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Division, arriving in France on 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’ However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of War. Private Lurie was the husband of Jane Lurie and is buried at Mons (Bergen) Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Note: The CWGC, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Soldiers Died in the Great War and the British Jewry Book of Honour 1914-1920 all state Laurie’s date of death to be 23 August 1914, however, the Register of Soldier’s Effects gives Lurie’s place and date of death to be Mons, 28 August 1914. It is therefore possible that Lurie was wounded at Mons on 23 August and died as a Prisoner of War five days later.
Three: Private A. W. G. Ratty, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was taken prisoner of war at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front 1914 Star (L-13798 Pte. A. W. G. Ratty. 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-13798 Pte. A. W. G. Ratty. Midd’x R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £240-£280 --- Alfred William George Ratty was born in 1894 in London and attested for the Middlesex Regiment in 1912. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he embarked from Southampton with the 4th Battalion as part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Division, arriving in France on 14 August 1914, and was captured at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls: ‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’ However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken Prisoner of War. Ratty was amongst those captured, and he was held at prisoner of war for the remainder of the Great War at camps in Hammerstein and Senne in Germany.
Three: Rifleman F. W. Andrews, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action on the Aisne on 16 September 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (11174 Pte. F. W. Andrews. 1/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (11174 Pte. F. W. Andrews K. R. Rif. C.) good very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Frederick William Andrews was born in 1895 at New Cross, Surrey and was an outdoor porter by occupation prior to attesting for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Winchester on 12 August 1913. He served with the 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and was killed in action on 16 September 1914 at the First Battle of the Aisne, following his battalion’s earlier participation, also with the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division, at the Battle of Mons, the subsequent retreat, and the operations on the Marne. He was the son of Arthur and Annie Andrews of 251 New Cross Road, Surrey and is buried at Vailly British Cemetery, France.
Three: Private W. Edwards, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who served as a member of the original British Expeditionary Force, was wounded at the First Battle of Ypres, and was killed in action at Givenchy on 10 March 1915 1914 Star, with copy clasp (11009 Pte. W. Edwards. 1/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (11009 Pte. W. Edwards. K.R. Rif. C.) extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- William Edwards was born in 1894, the son of Alfred Edwards, a Liverpool-born Tinsmith Cannister Maker and his wife Margaret. Unlike his eleven London born British siblings, William was born in Montreal, Canada, and his nationality in the 1911 census is given as Canadian. A resident of Whitechapel, London, he attested for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in London in 1913 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. As part of the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division of the original British Expeditionary Force, his Battalion fought at the Battle of Mons, the subsequent retreat and the operations on the Marne, The Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres during which B, C and D Companies were surrounded and overwhelmed losing a total of 1027 men either killed, missing or wounded in just 6 weeks. In relation to this period of fighting, the casualty list of 26 November 1914 lists Edwards among those wounded. Private Edwards was killed in action on 10 March 1915 during a failed assault by the 6th Brigade on the enemy’s trenches at The Bluff, near Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée. In regards to this attack, which cost the battalion a total of 256 men killed, wounded or missing, the battalion war diary states, ‘if gallantry and determination could have commanded success it would have been theirs..’ He has no known grave, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
Three: Lance Corporal C. C. Rand, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who died from wounds received near Vailly during the Battle of the Aisne on 23 September 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (6380 Pte. C.C. Rand. 1/Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6380 Pte. C. C. Rand. Wilts. R.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Cecil Rand) edge bruise to VM and some staining, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Charles Cecil Rand was born in 1881 at Brixton, London, the son of Charles Joshua and Mary Rand. He first attested for the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1903 and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 31 August 1914. The battalion was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, the 1st Wiltshire moved forward to high ground east of Chassemy on 14 September, crossing the Aisne later the same day and entrenched in a defensive line under heavy shell-fire north-east of Vailly. The enemy attacked in large numbers on 20 September: ‘The War Diary records that the Battalion’s right was seriously threatened - enemy getting to within 50 yards - “during this time a lot of close fighting took place.” Enemy eventually driven back. Captain H. C. Reynolds killed, Second Lieutenant H. W. Roseveare mortally wounded, 1 other officer wounded, approximately 80 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Relieved by 1st Norfolk and 1st K.S.L.I. (22nd) and via Vailly to billets at Braine.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers.) Lance Corporal Rand was among those wounded in the fighting near Vailly and died of his wounds in the Aisne Valley on 23 September 1914. He was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Darcy (formerly Rand) of 2 Sperricombe Cottages, Tenby and is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Sold together with Buckingham Palace enclosure for Memorial Plaque and Record Office transmission slip for British War and Victory Medals - both previously mounted and in fragile condition.
Three: Major T. Roche, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), a Boer War veteran who went out to France with the original British Expeditionary Force on 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at Hooge during the First Battle of Ypres on 17 November 1914 1914 Star (Major T. Roche. Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. Roche.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500 --- M.I.D. London Gazettes 10 September 1901; 17 February 1915 Thomas Roche was born in 1874 at Annakissa House, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, the son of Thomas Roche J.P., and was educated at Eastman’s Academy, Southsea and Fawcett’s School, Cork. He joined the Wiltshire Regiment from the Militia in 1895, becoming Lieutenant in November 1896 and Captain in 1900. After five years in India, he proceeded to South Africa in September 1900 and served in the Boer War, being present at operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen’s medal with four clasps. Returning to India, Roche was Adjutant of his battalion, 1902-06, and then, after passing through the Staff College, was Brigade-Major from 1909 to 1913, obtaining his majority in April of the latter year, having earlier been awarded the Delhi Durbar 1911 medal. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Roche served with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. The 1st Wiltshire was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, they began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé - Roche was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 October 1914. Roche was killed in action by a shell near Hooge on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows: ‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. Infantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’ Temporary Lieutenant Colonel Roche was initially buried 200 yards north-east of the Chateau south of the Menin-Ypres Road near Hooge. He was forty years old when he was killed and was posthumously Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915. He now lies buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, Belgium.
Three: Private P. G. Smith, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who was killed in action at Hooge, during the First Battle of Ypres, on 17 November 1914 1914 Star (9061 Pte. P. G. Smith. 1/Wilts: R.) in named card box of issue with Record Office transmission slip and outer OHMS envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs T. Smith, Telfont Magna, Nr Salisbury, Wilts.’; British War and Victory Medals (9061 Pte. P. G. Smith. Wilts. R.) in named card boxes of issue with Record Office transmission slip and outer OHMS envelope, similarly addressed; together with brass ‘Bed Plate’ inscribed, ‘P. G. Smith. 9051. Wiltshire. Regt.’ and a portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Percy Gordon Smith was born in Teffont Magna, Wiltshire and having attested for the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1913, he served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. His battalion was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and also when they suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, the 1st Wiltshires began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé. Private Smith was killed in action on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows: ‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. In fantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieeut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’ Private P. G. Smith was the son of Thomas and Margaret Smith, of Teffont Magna, Salisbury and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Family group: Four: Sergeant T. C. Owen, 18th (Queen Mary’s Own) Hussars, who served with his regiment during the Great War from the Battle of Mons and subsequent rearguard actions in August 1914 through to his death from wounds on the Western Front on 16 April 1918 1914 Star, with copy clasp (6585 Tptr: T. C. Owen. 18/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (6585 Sjt. T. C. Owen. 18-Hrs.); Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R, bronze; Memorial Plaque (Thomas Charles Owen) in card envelope and outer OHMS envelope (torn) addressed to ‘Mrs C. Ray, 130 Southam St., N. Kensington, London.’ together with a ‘crossed bugles’ cloth arm badge, nearly extremely fine Three: Private A. Ray, 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), who was discharged in 1917 due to shell shock and contusions caused by active service on the Western Front in September 1916 1914-15 Star (11780 Pte. A. Ray. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11780 Pte. A. Ray. W. York. R.) together with Silver War Badge, numbered ‘B239569’, edge bruise to second, otherwise nearly extremely fine (9) £300-£400 --- Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 April 1918 Thomas Charles Owen served with the 18th Hussars during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914, initially in the rank of Trumpeter. During the retreat from Mons on the 24th August 1914, on the extreme left of the British line, the 14th and 15th Brigades of the 5th Division were threatened by a German outflanking move and were forced to call for help from the cavalry. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade (including 18th Hussars), along with the 119th Battery RFA and L Battery RHA, were sent to their aid. Dismounting, the cavalry and the two artillery batteries, screened the withdrawal of the 14th and 15th Brigades during four hours of intense fighting. At Audregnies/Elouges, the cavalry charge of the 4th Dragoon Guards and the 9th Lancers and the heroic stand of 1st Cheshires and the 1st Norfolks are well documented, but the 18th Hussars were also also heavily involved and bore the brunt of the early German attacks and made a charge of their own. The Commanding Officer’s (Lieutenant-Colonel Burnett) report of the action makes apparent that the 18th Hussars were still in position along the mineral railway line between the sugar refinery and Elouges Railway Station until after the cavalry charge of the 4th D.G. and 9th Lancers had been broken up: ‘On the left 2 troops A Sqn in a sugar refinery, the centre 2 troops A Sqn on a mound about 300 yards S of the level crossing which lay about half a mile W of Elouges, the right B Sqn a little retired in a large cutting on a mineral line which led from the sugar refinery to Elouges station. C Sqn and machine gun in support near the western end of the same line. The whole position lay just S of the word Elouges. The Regiment was shelled a little during its retirement. We waited here for some time and then received orders to retire through Audregnies on Angres with the Regiment acting as rear guard to the Brigade. Two Sqns A and B were kept at the top of the rise above Audregnies, while C Sqn was sent to the ridge beyond that village. The two rear Sqns were preparing to follow C when all the Brigade was ordered back to the 2nd Position we had taken up during the retirement. The Sqns were sent to the same positions they had occupied before but B Sqn advanced too far beyond their original position and for a time lost touch. I went to find them but could see nothing of them and as rifle fire had broken out on the left and part of C and A Sqns were in action I came back to C Sqn and found a hostile attack developing in front of them and in front of A. The enemy’s guns opened on both these Sqns from the direction of Quievrechain and from north of the main Mons-Valenciennes Road. At that moment the remainder of the Brigade came over the skyline immediately in rear of us and the 9th Lancers in column of troops galloped across our front from left to right passing round the sugar refinery and the mound where A Sqn were on. They were quickly followed by the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in a similar formation. Both Regiments were heavily shelled and fired on from their left flank, as they executed this manoeuvre. Their ranks were broken and they sought refuge in ever increasing numbers behind these two localities, and in the cutting further to our right rear where B Sqn ought to have been. The enemy kept up an intense shell fire, concentrating it chiefly on the factory and on the mount, and their rifle fire was also very severe. Many more horses than the ground could accommodate were now massed together, and the fierce fire they were subjected to caused a good number to stampede. I went to the factory where A Sqn were and ordered Maj Stewart to retire when he could do so in safety, I then went to the mound and gave the same orders to Lt Lawrence and Lt Gorelangton’s troops who were holding that position. I then again went to try to find B Sqn but could see nothing of them. I rode almost up to the Mons-Valenciennes Road. I then rode back to see if A Sqn had retired and found they had gone back to a colliery close to Elouges Station where the majority of the Sqn rallied. C Sqn in the meantime had retired along the mineral line to the S of Elouges. The Regiment was now very much broken up, owing to the stampede of led horses and the mixture of units caused by the rallying of the remnants of the 9th Lancers and the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in rear of our line. We succeeded in rallying a good proportion of the Regiment at Elouges close to Elouges Station and just S of the town.’ Known correspondence from one member of the 18th Hussars confirms that his regiment had also charged the enemy at Elouges on 24 August 1914: ‘We had a fight last Sunday and Monday with the Germans. After we charged them, the regiment got split up into two parties one went one way, and the other the other. I went with one of them and stayed until Tuesday afternoon, when we had orders to go and join the other party, and take a message to them, so that we could reform the regiment as strong as possible. A Sergeant and eight of us had a tough job to get through to the remainder, but managed to join up at six o’clock Saturday morning. It is now Sunday morning, and we have just had a depatch rider landed to tell us that the party I left lost nearly all the men in a skirmish, so I think I am extremely lucky.’ (Private Archie Stephenson, 18th Hussars, letter written on 30 August 1914 to his father, published in the Hull Daily Mail, 11 September 1914) The 18th Hussars fought with the 1st Cavalry Division in both a mounted and dismounted role throughout the remainder of the Great War, winning many more battle honours, including Le Cateau, the Marne and First Ypres in 1914, Second Ypres in 1915, the Somme in 1916, Arras and Cambrai in 1917, and Amiens and Albert in 1918. Owen was promoted Sergeant and awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre prior to dying of wounds in France on 16 April 1918. He was the husband of Charlotte Ray (formerly Owen) and is buried in St. Server Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Alfred Ray was born in Walworth, Surrey in 1888 and attested for the West Yorkshire Regiment at St. Pancras on 31 August 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 July 1915 and was discharged on 3 July 1917 due to shell-shock and contusions caused by active service overseas in France and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He was the second husband of Charlotte Ray (widow of the above).
Three: Corporal J. M. Yule, 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who was killed in action in the assault on Chemin des Dames, on the Aisne River, on 14 September 1914 1914 Star, with copy clasp (8955. Cpl. J. Yule. Cam’n: Highrs); British War and Victory Medals (8955 Cpl. J. Yule. Cam’n Highrs.) very fine (3) £200-£240 --- John Mackie Yule was born at Montrose, Forfarshire and attested for the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders at Dundee in 1903. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, arriving at Havre on 14 August 1914 with the original British Expeditionary Force. Deployed to serve as Army Troops attached to General Headquarters, Headquarters 1st Army and Headquarters 2nd Army, Yule’s battalion took part in the Retreat from Mons in this capacity. Relieved from duties with the General Headquarters in early September, it became part of 1st Brigade, 1st Division and engaged the enemy at the Marne and the Aisne, moving forward through Moulins and Vendresse on 14 September and taking part in the attack along the Chivy Valley towards the German positions at the Chemin des Dames. After heavy fighting the battalion moved back and entrenched in woods above Vendresse. The casualties on 14 September were: 9 officers killed, 8 officers wounded, 151 other ranks killed (including Corporal Yule) or died of wounds and many more wounded. Private Ross Tollerton, of the same battalion, was awarded the V.C. for conspicuous bravery on this day: ‘On 14 September 1914 at the First Battle of the Aisne, France, Private Tollerton carried a wounded officer (Lieutenant J. S. M. Matheson), under heavy fire, as far as he was able, into a place of greater safety. Then, although he himself was wounded in the head and hand, he struggled back to the firing line where he remained until his battalion retired. He then returned to the wounded officer and stayed with him for three days until they were both rescued.’ Corporal Yule was the son of Stuart and Jessie Wood Yule, of 76, James St., Dundee and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
Three: Private C. C. Ferguson, 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who was killed in action at the Battle of Nonne Boschen, during the First Battle of Ypres, on 11 November 1914 1914 Star (9583 Pte. C. Ferguson. Cam’n: Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (9583 Pte. C. C. Ferguson. Cam’n Highrs.) extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Charles Craig Ferguson was born c.1892 in Govan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and attested for the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders at Glasgow in 1913. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, arriving at Havre on 14 August 1914 with the original British Expeditionary Force. Deployed to serve as Army Troops attached to General Headquarters, Headquarters 1st Army and Headquarters 2nd Army, Ferguson’s battalion took part in the Retreat from Mons in this capacity. Relieved from duties with the General Headquarters in early September, it became part of 1st Brigade, 1st Division and engaged the enemy at the Marne and the Aisne, taking part in heavy fighting at the Chemin des Dames. Having continued to see costly engagements throughout October at Ypres, Langemarck and Gheluvelt, the 1st Cameron Highlanders were moved to trenches around Veerbeek Farm where, on the night of 11 November, they faced the final German attempt to break through the British lines around Ypres. This attack, preceded by a prolonged and heavy artillery bombardment, was mostly turned back by accurate British rifle fire but the Prussian Guard emerging from the morning mist, succeeded in breaking through the lines of the British 1st Guards Brigade (Scots Guards, Cameron Highlanders and Black Watch) in a rare bayonet attack. Accurate artillery fire and isolated points of British resistance then took any further momentum out of the Germans who withdrew into the Nonne Boschen woods, thus giving this battle, the last major German offensive of First Ypres, its name. Initially reported missing, Private Ferguson was later confirmed among the 137 men of the Battalion to be killed on 11 November 1914. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Ferguson of 8 Mathieson St., Govan, Glasgow and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Three: Private W. J. Molloy, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who died from wounds received in action at Rue Tilleloy near Laventie on 17 November 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (9147 Pte. W. J. Molloy. 1/R. Ir.: Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (9147 Pte. W. J. Molloy. R.I. Rif.); Memorial Plaque (William John Molloy) BWM dark toned, good very fine or better (4) £220-£260 --- William John Molloy was born in Shankhill, Belfast and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Lisburn, Country Antrim in 1908. He served with “A” Company in the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 6 November 1914 and died of wounds at No. 6 Clearing Hospital on 17 November 1914. The war diary records that 1 man was killed and 1 man mortally wounded (possibly Molloy) as the battalion took over trenches for the first time at Rue Tilleloy near Laventie on 15 November 1914. The battalion was relieved by the 2nd Lincolnshires on 22 November having suffered casualties of 10 killed, 29 wounded and 2 missing. Molloy was 25 years of age and the son of Thomas and Sarah Molloy of 2 Alexander Street, Belfast. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery, France.
Three: Private R. Delaney, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle during the Battle of La Bassée on 26 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (8267 Pte. R. Delaney. R. Ir: Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (2-8267 Pte. R. Delaney. R. Ir. Rif.) nearly very fine (3) £200-£240 --- Richard Delaney was born in 1884 at Ballymachugh, County Cavan, Ireland and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Armagh in 1906. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and would have been present with his Battalion at the Battle of Mons, Caudry (Le Cateau) on 26 August, and at the Aisne. On 12 October 1914 the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles deployed at La Bassée, with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, as part of II Corps’ plan to protect the Channel Ports. There followed two and a half weeks of bitter and bloody fighting in and around the village of Neuve Chapelle where the battalion was engaged in repelling heavy attacks from Jagers and dismounted German cavalry units. Delaney was killed in action on 26 October 1914 - a day the Regimental History describes as the worst of all: ‘The Battalion still clung on to Neuve Chapelle, but it was now a grievous case. In the last two days it had lost Captains Reynolds and Kennedy and Lieutenant Rea killed, and Lieutenants Lowry and Lavelle wounded. Major Daunt had already been wounded, and the command devolved upon Captain C. S. Dixon, who had not more than four or five officers left with his thinned companies. Two of these, “A” and “C” were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast for a short rest on the morning of the 26th. This was the blackest day of all. An enemy attack swept into the village from the north-east corner. “B” and “D” Companies were simply swallowed up, Lieutenants Finlay and and Innes-Cross, the only officers with them, and every soul in their ranks, being reported missing. About 6.30pm a counter-attack reoccupied half the village, and the rest of the Battalion, hastily summoned from Richebourg, took its place in the line.’ (The History of the First Seven Battalions, The Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War vol 2 by Cyril Falls refers). Richard Delaney was the son of James and Julia Delaney of Mount Nugent, County Cavan; he has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
Three: Private W. J. Shields, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, who was taken prisoner of war at Neuve Chapelle, during the Battle of La Bassée, on 27 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (8568 Pte. W. J. Shields. R. Ir. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (8568 Pte. W. J. Shields. R. Ir. Rif.) good very fine (3) £200-£240 --- William John Shields was born in 1890 in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Ireland and attested for the Royal Irish Rifles at Newtownards in March 1907. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he was mobilized from the Reserve at Belfast on 5 August 1914 and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War from 14 August 1914. John Lucy was in this Battalion and describes in detail in his book - There’s a Devil in the Drum - the retreat from Mons, including the fighting at Caudry on 26 August, on the Aisne (14-22 September) - ‘this was a holocaust’ - and the overwhelming German attacks during the Battle of La Bassée, particularly at Neuve Chapelle (23-27 October) - the War Diary recording that by 24 October the battalion was ‘practically without officers’ and by the 27th no further trace could be found of “B” and “D” Companies. “A” and “C” Companies, having then been recalled to the line succeeded in driving the enemy back but were forced later on 27 October to withdraw to Neuve Chapelle with only 2 officers and 46 men succeeding in getting back. The History of the First Seven Battalions, The Royal Irish Rifles in the Great War vol 2 by Cyril Falls, gives the following account of the worst of the fighting on 26 and 27 October: ‘The Battalion still clung on to Neuve Chapelle, but it was now a grievous case. In the last two days it had lost Captains Reynolds and Kennedy and Lieutenant Rea killed, and Lieutenants Lowry and Lavelle wounded. Major Daunt had already been wounded, and the command devolved upon Captain C. S. Dixon, who had not more than four or five officers left with his thinned companies. Two of these, “A” and “C” were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast for a short rest on the morning of the 26th. This was the blackest day of all. An enemy attack swept into the village from the north-east corner. “B” and “D” Companies were simply swallowed up, Lieutenants Finlay and and Innes-Cross, the only officers with them, and every soul in their ranks, being reported missing. About 6.30pm a counter-attack reoccupied half the village, and the rest of the Battalion, hastily summoned from Richebourg, took its place in the line. South-east of the village their splendid colleagues in the Wiltshire had clung to their trenches even when the enemy was behind them. On the morning of the 27th the enemy turned the left flank of the Battalion. After terrible fighting from house to house, in which little groups were caught by the oncoming enemy like rocks flooded by a rising tide, Captain Dixon withdrew his handful to the western outskirts in an effort to save his brigade’s flank. The battle had become at this point what the soldier aptly calls a ‘dog fight,’ a wild fury of rush and counter-rush. By evening there was half a battalion of 47th Sikhs hastily moved up, Lincolns, Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers, remnants of the South Lancashire, and French Cyclists sent by General Conneau, clinging to the western edge of Neuve Chapelle, now in flames. And then at last, after ten days’ fighting, the last remnants of the Battalion were moved back to Richebourg St. Vaast. Captain Davis had been killed, Lieutenants Mulcahy-Morgan and Jonsson were wounded and missing. The body that retired to Richebourg consisted of two officers and forty-six men.’ Rifleman Shields was among those reported missing after the fighting at Neuve Chapelle on 27 October 1914. He was later confirmed to have been captured by the enemy and was held prisoner of war in Germany for the remainder of the war. He was repatriated on 4 December 1918 and transferred to the Class Z Reserve on demobilization on 29 March 1919.
Four: Staff Sergeant H. W. Jordan, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was wounded and taken prisoner of war at Etreux, the scene of his Battalion’s epic rearguard action during the retreat from Mons, on 27 August 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (9990 Pte. H. Jordan. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (9990 Pte. H. W. Jordan. R. Muns. Fus.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7658070 S. Sjt. H. W. Jordan R.A.P.C.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4) £400-£500 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 30 January 1920. Horace Walter Jordan was born in 1885 at Camberwell, London and attested for the Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1913. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he disembarked with B Company of the 2nd Battalion at Havre on 14 August 1914 and moved forward to Mons where the battalion was held in reserve for the fighting on 24 August. During the retreat, the 2nd Munsters occupied the position of honour as rearguard to the 1st Guards Brigade which, in turn, acted as rearguard for the 1st Division commanded by Major General Lomax. On the morning of Thursday 27 August 1914, the Irishmen, supported by two 18-pounders of the 118th Battery R.F.A. and a troop of the 15th Hussars, held the villages of Fesmy and Bergues, together with two important road junctions in that immediate area. Approaching them in an arc from North to East was an entire German Army Corps preceded by masses of cavalry and backed by an impressive array of artillery. Early in the afternoon, having inflicted savage casualties on 12 battalions of the German 2nd Guards’ Reserve Division which had attacked Fesmy, the Munsters began to withdraw to the South to the village of Oisy, and on to Etreux. At 5.30pm the battalion was located at a crossroads just east of Oisy. Jordan’s “B” Company, however, was missing and the retreat was held up. The company reappeared at about 6.30pm but the delay, according to Captain McCance’s regimental history, proved ‘fatal to the battalion’. Approaching the village of Oisy, the battalion came under heavy fire from the houses on the northern outskirts, followed by salvoes from eight German field guns positioned south-east of the village. Now, for the first time, the Irishmen began to fall thick and fast and although the one remaining 18-pounder promptly came into action, its ammunition was nearly exhausted. After a series of desperate bayonet attacks, and with the artillerymen all dead and wounded about their gun, the gallant Munsters fell back to an orchard on the west of the road. Despite a further bayonet charge, at odds of fifty to one, which had temporarily held the enemy, the orchard was now ringed by Germans against whom the survivors, lining the four sides of the orchard, made every shot count. Ultimately, due to appalling casualties, lack of ammunition and the overwhelming superiority of enemy numbers, the survivors of the Battalion were compelled to surrender around 9pm. They had been fighting for 12 hours and their senior surviving officer was a Lieutenant but their sacrifice had ensured that Haig’s 1 Corps could continue unharassed on its way. Jordan was wounded in the heel and taken prisoner of war at Etreux on 27 August 1914. He was initially held at Gardelegen prisoner of war camp and was later sent to Merseburg. Upon his return to England after the war he was Mentioned in Despatches for valuable services rendered whilst a prisoner of war.
Three: Private S. Willoughby, 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was killed in action near Clary on 27 August 1914 1914 Star (8966 Pte. S. Willoughby. R. Dub: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (8966 Pte. S. Willoughby. R. D. Fus.); Memorial Plaque (Samuel Willoughby) in card envelope, good very fine (4) £300-£400 --- Samuel Willoughby was born at Hackettstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland, and first attested for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1902. He was discharged after 21 days ‘owing to mis-statement as to age on enlistment’ but successfully re-attested at Carlow in 1904. Following the outbreak of the Great War, Willoughby arrived at Boulogne on 23 August 1914 with “A” Company in the 2nd Battalion and entrained for Le Cateau. On 25 August, the battalion fired its first shots at enemy cavalry, reportedly bringing two down. On the morning of 26 August, the battalion took up a position on the right of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment around the Cattenières-Caullery bridal path, as part of the 10th Brigade in Snows’ 4th Division. As the Battle of Le Cateau wore on, “A” and “D” Companies moved to occupy a defensive line east of Haucourt. Enemy shelling on Haucourt began at 2pm, followed later by an infantry attack and at this point troops around Haucourt began to withdraw in some confusion, and in small, mixed detachments. ‘A’ and ‘D’ companies (about 400 men) commanded by Major H Shewan, of the Dublin Fusiliers, were left behind and retired about midnight on the 26-27th August. On approaching Clary, they came under fire. Captain Trigona believed the fire may be from British troops and signalled that they were Royal Dublin Fusiliers, to which the response was “Dublin Fusiliers, right, come on”. However, German uniforms were spotted and the detachment began to fall back on Ligny. Whilst the detachment was fully engaged with the enemy and being surrounded, small ‘rushes’ were made to get away, but each of these suffered heavier casualties than the last. At the end of the day, the 400 strong detachment had been reduced to two Officers and 30 men who’d escaped. One officer was killed, 6 officers taken prisoner, and 44 men killed or mortally wounded, the remainder became prisoners of war. Private Willoughby was reported missing presumed dead on 27 August 1914. He was the son of Samuel and Anne Willoughby, of Church Rd., Hacketstown and the husband of Annie Willoughby, of Mill St., Hacketstown, Co. Carlow. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
Pair: Lieutenant G. P. N. Thompson, 8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was awarded the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate, and was killed in action near Hazebrouck on 4 May 1918 British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. P. N. Thompson); Memorial Plaque (Gerald Pittis Newman Thompson) in card envelope; Memorial Scroll, ‘Lieut. Gerald Pittis Newman Thompson, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.’, nearly extremely fine (4) £300-£400 --- Gerald Pittis Newman Thompson was born in 1898 on the Isle of Wight, the only son of Dr. C. I. and Mrs. Thompson, of Bradley Lodge, Newport, Isle of Wight and the nephew of Mr. Newman Thompson, First Auditor of the Bank of Ireland. He was educated at Aldwick House, Bognor, Epsom and Sandhurst and was commissioned Second Lieutenant from the latter college to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 19 July 1916. He served on the Western Front with the 8th/9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was awarded Major-General Hickie’s Irish Brigade Certificate for his gallant conduct during 1917. Having been advanced Lieutenant on 19 January 1918, Thompson was killed in action near Hazebrouck on 4 May 1918 while serving on attachment with the 8th (Service) Battalion, and is buried in Nieppe-Bois (Rue-du-Bois) British Cemetery, Vieux Berquin, France. Sold together with the recipient’s Irish Brigade Gallant Conduct Certificate (very good condition), in envelope dated 21 February 1918, and signed by ‘W. B. Hickie’, Major-General, Commanding 16th Irish Division, reading, ‘2nd Lieut. G. P. N. Thompson 8/9th R. Dublin Fusiliers, I have read with much pleasure the reports of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field during 1917 and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Irish Division’. Note: Major General Hickie instituted the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate in February 1916, announcing it during an inspection of battalions returning from a period of instruction in the trenches alongside more experienced units. On 17 February, whilst praising the performance of the 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers, he is known to have declared that whenever the name of a man came before him for having performed a meritorious deed he would have the fact recorded “…on a parchment sheet specially prepared in Dublin, so that a heritage worth preserving might be passed onto future generations to the glory of the Irish Brigades in France in 1916.” Hickie’s parchment certificate was always awarded in addition to, rather than instead of, any other decoration that was awarded. It was produced in two versions. The second type, of which Thompson’s certificate is an example, was awarded from the latter part of 1917 and differs from the first version in that it was additionally inscribed across the top with ‘Everywhere and Always Faithful’, had an added border, and the first letter of the main text was enlarged and decorated with an oak leaf design. Also sold with a letter to the recipient’s father from the Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries, informing the former of the whereabouts of his son’s grave.
A Great War 1916 ‘Battle of Ginchy’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant A. Smith, 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, whose meritorious deeds also resulted in the award of the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8222 Sjt: A. Smith. 9/R. Dub: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (8222 Sjt. A. Smith. R. D. Fus); together with a Silver War Badge, the reverse numbered ‘B151301’, medals mounted as worn and contained in a fitted leather case, good very fine (3) £800-£1,200 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 20 October 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. When all his officers had become casualties, he rallied the remains of the platoon and led them forward to the final objective.’ Arthur Smith was born in 1893 and first attested for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1910. He served in the rank of Sergeant with the 9th (Service) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front and was decorated for gallantry at Ginchy on 9 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. On this day, Ginchy was captured by the 16th Division and several German counter-attacks were defeated. The loss of Ginchy deprived the Germans of observation posts, from which they could observe all of the battlefield and eliminated the salient at Delville Wood, which had been costly to defend, due to observed German artillery-fire from three sides. Smith’s battalion, as part of the 48th Brigade helped clear the western part of the village. In addition to the award of his D.C.M., Sergeant Smith also received a ‘16th (Irish) Division’ Gallant Conduct Certificate for Ginchy. He was discharged on 20 February 1919 on account of being permanently unfit due to aggravated melancholia, his address at the time of discharge being, ‘3 Charlemont Row, Harcourt Road, Dublin.’ Neither M.I.D. or Silver War Badge entitlement confirmed. Sold with the recipient’s Irish Brigade Gallant Conduct Certificate, on folded card backed parchment, upper section cut away, signed by ‘W. B. Hickie’, Major-General, Commanding 16th Irish Division, reading, ‘No. 8222 Sgt. A. Smith. D.C.M. 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, I have read with much pleasure the reports of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on Sept. 9th 1916 and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Irish Division’. Note: Major General Hickie instituted the 16th (Irish) Division Gallant Conduct Certificate in February 1916, announcing it during an inspection of battalions returning from a period of instruction in the trenches alongside more experienced units. On 17 February, whilst praising the performance of the 9th Royal Munster Fusiliers, he is known to have declared that whenever the name of a man came before him for having performed a meritorious deed he would have the fact recorded “…on a parchment sheet specially prepared in Dublin, so that a heritage worth preserving might be passed onto future generations to the glory of the Irish Brigades in France in 1916.” Hickie’s parchment certificate was always awarded in addition to, rather than instead of, any other decoration that was awarded. It was produced in two versions. The first type, of which Smith’s certificate is an example, was awarded between February 1916 and the early Summer of 1917 and was inscribed across the top with ‘The Irish Brigade’ in Celtic script together with a green shamrock. This upper section is missing from Smith’s certificate. After the Battle of Ginchy, the award of the parchment certificate was accompanied by a hollow, dark green felt diamond, know as the ‘Ginchy Diamond’, to be worn on the right upper sleeve of the uniform.
Four: Private W. Pippett, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), who was discharged in May 1916 due to wounds received in action near Ypres in May 1915 Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (5594 Pte. W. Pippett. Rifle Brigade); 1914 Star, with clasp (Z-2244 Pte. W. Pippett. 3/Rif: Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (Z-2244 Pte. W. Pippett. Rif. Brig.) mounted as worn, the first with edge bruise and nearly very fine, the Great War awards better (4) --- William Pippett served with the 5th Battalion, Rifle Brigade during the Boer War (QSA with 3 clasps). Following the outbreak of the Great War, he re-enlisted in the Rifle Brigade on 3 September 1914 and served with the 3rd Battalion on the Western Front from 13 November 1914. On 12 June 1915, he was admitted to Rouen Hospital with a gunshot wound to the left arm and repatriated to England where he was discharged due to wounds on 5 May 1916, being awarded a Silver War Badge. At the time Rifleman Pippet’s wounds were inflicted, his battalion was carrying out tours in the Ypres Sector north-east of La Brique and near St. Jean.
Pair: Private L. P. Hewett, 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), who was reported missing, presumed dead, after heavy fighting at Messines Ridge on 31 October 1914 1914 Star, with clasp (1310 Pte. L. P. Hewett. 14/Lond: R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (1310 Pte. L. P. Hewett. 14-Lond. R.); Memorial Plaque (Leonard Percy Hewett) with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll, ‘Pte. Leonard Percy Hewett 14 London Regt.’ in OHMS transmission tube, address label torn off, nearly extremely fine (4) £160-£200 --- Leonard Percy Hewett was born on 16 July 1894 in Paddington, London and was a resident of Hanwell. He served with H Company of the London Scottish during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 September 1914 and was reported missing on 1 November following fighting at Messines the previous day. His date of death was recorded for official purposes as 1 November 1914. Ray Westlake in British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 uses a mixture of war diary extracts and eyewitness accounts to describe the multiple difficulties confronting the London Scottish at Messines on 31 October 1914: ‘Advanced up slopes of Messines Ridge to firing line just east of Messines-Wytschaete road. Heavy casualties among leading companies at crest of ridge. Enemy attacked about 9pm and were driven back by rifle fire and a series of charges. The rifles in use had been issued at Abbots Langley and were Mark 1 pattern converted to take Mark VII ammunition. Battalion records show that not a man had opportunity to fire the new weapons. It would soon be discovered that the magazines had springs too weak and that front stop clips were the wrong shape for Mark V II rounds. The rifles could only be used as single-loaders. However, Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay notes that - “steady shooting beat off the attack.” A second attack was also repulsed - “remembered it was Hallowe’en... saw a party of men in kilts in our rear. Did not know if they were our men of Germans. They got within a dozen yards, when we saw they were wore spiked helmets, and shot them. Were attacked in both front and rear.”, wrote one man present. A third attack forces the Scottish back - “they advanced in quarter column with a brass band playing at their head, playing the Austrian National Anthem.” Another eyewitness mentions seeing the Medical Officer, Captain A. Mac Nab, bayoneted and killed whilst attending to the wounded. Forward trenches almost surrounded. Reserve line at Enfer charged the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay records - “a prolonged and confused struggle... there was hard fighting, bayonets were crossed, fire was exchanged at close quarters... officers, sergeants and men had to act on their own initiative.”’ The following extract is from War Service of the Staff of Coutts & Co. 1914-1918: ‘Leonard Percy Hewett entered the service of Coutts Bank at 440 Strand on the 14th October 1912, and in 1914 was employed in the Securities Department. He joined the London Scottish in 1910 at the age of 16 years 6 months, and at the outbreak of war was mobilised with that Battalion. A short time after, he proceeded to France with them and took part in the First Battle of Messines in October, after which engagement he was reported missing on the 1st November 1914. No further tidings being received, the War Office in due course presumed his death.’ Hewitt was the son of Mr. L. W. Hewett, of 10, Milton Rd., Hanwell, London and, having no known grave is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium and also on the Coutts Bank War Memorial, The Strand, Charing Cross, London. Sold together with an old photograph of the Coutts Bank War Memorial.
Three: Private P. J. Robinson, 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment (Territorial Force), who met his death by shell-fire near Ypres on 17 November 1914 - the first member of his regiment to be killed in action during the Great War 1914 Star, with clasp (2636 Pte. P. J. Robinson. 1/1 Herts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2636 Pte. P. J. Robinson. Herts. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240 --- Philip James Robinson ‘was the only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Robinson of 75 New Road. Philip, know as “Buff”, was a Sunday School teacher at St. Mary’s and a member of the choir. He joined the Territorial Force at Hertford with the first group of volunteers a few weeks after war broke out. “Buff” went to France in November 1914 [6 Nov] and was the first member of the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment to be killed in action. He met his death by shell-fire on 18 November 1914 whilst his “C” Company rested outside Ypres having just come out of the front line. His parents received the following letter from Major Page Croft, the Commanding Officer of “C” Company: ‘I deeply regret to have to inform you that Private Robinson lost his life from the effects of a German shell yesterday, November 18th. His death was instantaneous, and he could not have suffered pain. He was a splendid young fellow, full of pluck and good spirits, and having known him for so many years I feel his loss keenly. He was the first of our Regiment to die for his country, and I trust it may be a small consolation to you to know that he won the esteem of all officers and men, and that his devotion to duty was an example to his countrymen. Believe me, yours in deepest sympathy - H. P. Croft, Major” “Buff” was 22 years old when he died.’ (Our Boys: Ware Men in the First World War by Derek Armes refers). Close examination of the war diary of the 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment reveals that the date of Private Robinson’s death was in fact 17 November 1914. This is also the date of death accepted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Three: Corporal A. E. Boardman, 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, who was killed in action near Ypres on 18 November 1914 - a member of 12 Platoon, E Company, he is clearly identifiable in the well known photograph of his unit taken at Letchworth Train Station immediately following the outbreak of War 1914 Star (2270 Cpl. A. E. Boardman. 1/1 Herts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2270 Cpl. A. E. Boardman. Herts. R.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Ernest Boardman) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Arthur Edwin Boardman was born in 1893 at Hove, Sussex and was a resident of Herne Hill, Surrey. He attested for the Hertfordshire Regiment, Territorial Force, on 26 June 1912 and was promoted Corporal in June 1913. A Journalist by profession, he was mobilised on the outbreak of war and served with E Company of the 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment on the Western Front from 6 November. He was killed in action in the early hours of the morning on 18 November as he went from trench to trench with ration supplies, close to Zillebeke, near Ypres. Shortly before his death he was warned, ‘Watch out for the machine guns - they are lively tonight,’ to which he is said to have replied, ‘Never mind that - I have to look after feeding the men.’ He was the son of Leonard Duncan and Eliza Ann Boardman of 238 Croydon Road, Caterham Valley, Surrey and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Corporal Boardman and his comrades in 12 Platoon, E Company, 1st Hertfordshire Regiment were photographed standing in full kit on the platform at Letchworth train station immediately after the outbreak of war in August 1914. Having been called to their war stations on 4 August 1914, the Territorials in this famous photograph were waiting for a train to take them to Norfolk to complete three months of training, after which they joined the British Expeditionary Force. Boardman was the first member of the platoon to be killed after their arrival on the Western Front. A copy of a Daily Mail article re the aforementioned photograph is with the lot. Also sold together with a photograph of the recipient in uniform, 53mm x 36mm; named Record Office enclosure for the 1914 Star; named Record Office enclosure for the British War and Victory Medals; a 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Card with envelope.
An important early aviator’s Great War group of three awarded to Major F. G. ‘Freddy’ Small, Connaught Rangers, attached Royal Flying Corps: a member of the original British Expeditionary Force, on 26 August 1914 he delivered a message to Haig’s H.Q. by audaciously landing between the lines of I Corps and the pursuing Germans, and was the first Royal Flying Corps airman to shoot down an enemy aircraft with a machine-gun 1914 Star (Lieut. F. G. Small. C. Rang. Attd: R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major F. G. Small. R.F.C.); together with a bullet, 7.65mm, the tip of which has been bent on impact, capped with gold inscribed ‘December 6th 1914’ - the date that he received his active-service career-ending wounds, good very fine (3) £2,000-£3,000 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915 Francis Gordon Small was born in Keynsham, Somerset on 7 March 1890. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Connaught Rangers on 20 April 1910 and was promoted Lieutenant in December 1911. Having obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate on 22 October 1912, he was appointed Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing, on 17 April 1913 - less than a year after its formation - and was posted to No. 5 Squadron. On 14 August 1914, following the outbreak of the Great War, Small left Southampton bound for Maubeuge, France - 13 miles south of Mons. Here 2, 3, 4 and 5 Squadrons all gathered at the R.F.C.’s forward base for the purposes of conducting their principal role of reconnaissance. Less than 2 weeks later, on 26 August, as the British Expeditionary Force was in full retreat from the advancing Germans, Lieutenant Small and Lieutenant Borton were lucky to escape after being forced to land their plane between the lines of I Corps and the pursuing Germans on the far side of the Sambre: ‘On the British right, close to Le Cateau, the danger was now acute. It was harder than ever to get in touch with Haig, whose I Corps was going back, as we have seen, on the far side of the Sambre with relatively undisturbed spells of retreat and halt, retreat and halt. To try to find Haig, two of the Royal Flying Corps Fifth Squadron, Lieutenants Borton and Small, were sent out. They could not find a landing-ground at the rear of I Corps, so they came down between the firing lines in a field protected against the enemy fire by a rise of ground. A nearby cavalry patrol offered a solution of sorts: the riders promised to deliver the message to Haig’s HQ and the lieutenants went back to their aircraft, starting it up and flying away just as two Uhlans rode into the field.’ (Farewell Leicester Square - The Old Contemptibles 12 August - 20 November 1914 by Kate Caffrey refers) Although there are competing claims for the title of ‘first R.F.C. airman to shoot down an enemy aircraft’, with Lieutenant C. E. C. Rabagliati often credited, the R.A.F. Museum maintains that this honour belongs to Lieutenant Strange and his gunner Lieutenant F. G. Small. In any case, it appears beyond doubt that Strange and Small were the first to use a machine-gun to bring down an aerial opponent: ‘22 November - The first enemy aircraft is shot down by a British aircraft. Lieutenants L. A. Strange and F. G. Small in an Avro biplane of No. 5 Squadron engaged a German Albatros. The Avro was fitted with a machine gun in spite of orders for Strange to desist from machine-gun experiments. Two drums were emptied into the enemy aircraft, which made a forced landing behind Allied lines near Neuve-Église. The two German crew members were uninjured and were captured by the British aviators who landed nearby. The Albatros had been hit 20 times by the British fire.’ (rafmuseum.org.uk) A more graphic account of this seminal episode of aerial combat - in which Small was also wounded - is to be found in Ralph Barker’s ‘The Royal Flying Corps in World War 1’: ‘Against orders, he [Strange] fitted a cross bar against the centre section struts over which a rope was slung, so that a Lewis machine-gun, mounted on top of the fuselage decking, could be hauled up on a pulley in mid-air, free to fire in all directions. A chance to use it came on the morning on 22 November when, on reconnaissance with observer Lieutenant Freddy Small, they spotted a German reconnaissance machine heading for St. Omer at about 7000 feet. Recognising it as an Aviatik, Strange climbed and turned in front of it, manoeuvring for position. When he gave the signal, Small fired two long bursts, after which Strange closed the range to 50 feet only to see the German observer taking pot shots at them with a Mauser pistol. Small was in the act of changing a drum, standing up immediately in front of Strange, when his face suddenly contorted and Strange saw blood oozing from his gloved hand. Nevertheless Small completed the drum-change, and after another long burst the Aviatik pulled up, stalled, and side-slipped before flattening out and coming down near some reserve trenches on what appeared to be the British side of the line. Landing at an aerodrome nearby, Strange delivered Small for first aid before cadging a motorcycle to see what had happened to the Aviatik, convinced that Freddy Small had shot it down. He found it just where he expected, with twenty bullet holes in it but apparently capable at the very least of having continued into friendly territory. Presumably the pilot thought that he had crossed the lines. His observer and superior officer, of the Prussian Guard, was furious at being captured, and when discovered his NCO pilot was uninjured he broke away from his captors and knocked him down, and began kicking him viciously before he was overpowered and dragged away.’ Lieutenant Small was wounded a second time on 6 December 1914 and was Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915. Both A. E. Borton and L. A. Strange were mentioned in the same despatch. Remaining on attachment to the Royal Flying Corps, he was unfit to fly during 1915 and was appointed Commander of No. 47 Squadron (Home Defence) on 21 March 1916. He took up duties as an instructor in July 1916 and was advanced Temporary Major in May 1917, being confirmed in the rank on 5 June 1919. He relinquished his commission in 1923 and died in 1970.
Three: Lieutenant A. V. Warrington, 28th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who was wounded in action in August 1916 and April 1917 whilst serving in France and gassed in 1918 1914-15 Star (2333 Cpl. A. V. Warrington. 28 Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. V. Warrington. A.I.F.) last with correction to name and unit, very fine (3) £280-£320 --- Alfred Victor Warrington was born in 1883 at Altrincham, Cheshire. Having emigrated to Australia in 1911, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force during the Great War at Bunbury, Western Australia on 26 July 1915 and embarked from Australia with 28 Infantry Battalion on 13 October 1915. In mid-March 1916, his battalion was transferred from Egypt to France as part of the first body of Australian troops to deploy to the European battlefield. The following is a summary of Warrington’s service: 14 April 1916 - promoted Lance Corporal 14/16 August 1916 - wounded in action, France 21 August 1916 - admitted East Suffolk Hospital with gun shot wounds to shoulder and legs 2 April 1917 - wounded, France (2nd occasion) 9 April 1917 - embarked on H.S. Cambrai for England with gun shot wound to left side 19 December 1917 - appointed Second Lieutenant and posted General Infantry Rfts. (A.I.F. List 275) 7 January 1918 - proceeded overseas to France 22 January 1918 - taken on strength of 11th Battalion 19 March 1918 - promoted Lieutenant 28 March 1918 - gassed and invalided 12 April 1918 - admitted hospital 3rd occasion - 3rd London General 18 July 1918 - proceeded overseas to France 16 July 1918 - taken on strength 11th Battalion 27 September 1918 - seconded for duty as Gas Officer, 3rd Infantry Brigade 10 February 1919 - admitted 2nd Field Ambulance with influenza 14 February 1919 - admitted 14th General Hospital with influenza 29 September 1919 - demobilized and relinquished appointment from the Australian Imperial Force.
A Great War ‘French Resistance’ Allied Subjects’ Medal and Croix de Guerre pair awarded to Madame Jeanne Cleve, who ‘hid 150 British prisoners of war in an attic and guided them to the coast right under enemy noses’ Allied Subjects’ Medal, bronze, unnamed as issued; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, the reverse dated 1914-1918, with bronze star emblem on riband, together with the recipient’s riband bar, good very fine (2) £600-£800 --- Jeanne White née Cleve was born in Maroilles, France in 1885. Her wartime exploits are summarised in the following article, published in the Thurrock Gazette in 1971: ‘Jeanne White, 86, can be pardoned for drifting into daydreams as she does occasionally, for as a French Resistance fighter, playing a perilous game of cat and mouse in the First World War, she has more than most to remember. Jeanne married a British soldier and came to live in Rosedale Road, Grays, in 1926. The soldier was Alfred White one of 150 British prisoners of war who Jeanne hid in an attic and then guided to the coast right under enemy noses. She lived with her mother and sister in a large rambling farmhouse at Lille. When her father was killed in the Resistance while blowing up a bridge, and she saw her beloved France “shaking under the enemy’s boots” she joined the hundreds of French, members of the underground movement, who devoted their lives to sabotage. “I did it for revenge,” she added, banging a small wrinkled fist on the arm of the chair. Jeanne is a delightful old lady with flashing blue eyes undulled by age, a penchant for cognac and an impressive flow of French invective. She is independent in the extreme and longs for the day she can leave Thurrock Hospital and go back to her home. She has been hospital-bound for a year now because of a fractured hip. She felt she could not kill or handle a gun but suggested to her mother that the farmhouse, which had a huge attic running its entire length, was an ideal place to hide British PoWs while they waited for a boat to cross the Channel to safety. Her mother agreed and soon they had the first group of men hidden and were busy sorting through the clothes that would turn the men into French peasants for their dangerous journey. The clothes were taken along to the farmhouse at night, as was the extra bread which Jeanne persuaded the mayor to give her. “I would accompany the man as wife or sister because most of them could not speak French,” said Jeanne. “We never had any trouble on the journey, although a soldier had to kill two Germans who searched the farmhouse because they found him hiding in the attic.” Of the 150 soldiers Jeanne helped to safety not one of them was caught. “I heard from them all once after the war,” she said. “But that’s all.” “Alfred was one of the last to go,’ she added. “He wanted me to go with him to England - but I was too frightened because I couldn’t speak a word of English - imagine that.” So Jeanne the resistance fighter waited seven years to pluck up enough courage to come to Grays and marry her soldier sweetheart in Grays Parish Church.’ Sold together with wooden glazed framed certificate from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informing the recipient - ‘Madamoiselle Jeanne Cleve’ - of the award of her Bronze Medal, ‘specially instituted by His Majesty’ - ‘with appreciation of the valued services which you have rendered to British Prisoners of War in the course of the Great War’ ... ‘for the timely help which you gave to our distressed comrades’ ... ‘in recognition of the signal services which you have thus given’ ... ‘as a token of gratitude for such assistance to his subjects’. Also sold with two (identical) portrait photographs of the recipient as a young lady and two more taken in later life; the recipient’s Republique Francaise Passeport a l’Étranger with photograph, dated September 1923; Republique Francaise Sauf Conduit document authorising the recipient to travel from Rouen to Paris on 5 July 1918; the recipient’s marriage certificate, dated 8 May 1926; the recipient’s husband’s birth certificate, dated 27 April 1893; and a newspaper cutting.
A scarce ‘Relief of Chitral 1895’ C.B. group of three awarded to Major-General H. B. ‘Jackal’ MacCall, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who commanded the 1st Battalion in the battle of the Malakand Pass The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with swivel-ring bar suspension and ribbon buckle; Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Ens: H. B. Macall. 4/60 Regt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (Ltt. Coll: H. B. MacCall 1st Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps) the first with chipping to both wreaths, otherwise good very fine and better (3) £3,000-£4,000 --- C.B. London Gazette 21 January 1896: ‘In recognition of services during the operations of the Chitral Relief Force.’ One of 10 officers of the 4/60th to receive the Canada G.S. medal, the clasp ‘Fenian Raid 1866’ in combination with that of ‘Relief of Chitral 1895’ is unique. Henry Blackwood MacCall was born on 15 August 1845, son of Colonel George MacCall. He was appointed Ensign, by purchase, in the 60th K.R.R.C. on 16 February 1864, and served with the 4th Battalion in Canada 1865-67 (Medal with clasp). He served in India from 1868 to 1903, with the 3rd Battalion 1868-72, and as Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion 1873-81, becoming Captain in 1875 and A.D.C. to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies [General Sir Frederick Haines] in 1880-81. He was promoted to Major in the 4th Battalion in 1881, and to Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the 1st Battalion, in July 1891, serving with the Isazai Expedition in 1892 [No medals awarded for this expedition]. MacCall commanded the 1st Battalion throughout the operations of the Chitral Relief Force in 1895, serving with the leading brigade under Brigadier-General A. A. Kinloch. The Battalion highly distinguished itself in the battle of the Malakand Pass on the 3rd of April, and again in the action at Khar on the following day, thereby adding ‘Chitral’ to the honours of the Regiment. Despatches, London Gazette 15 November 1895: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel H. B. MacCall, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who, by skilfully using his opportunities, brought his battalion to the main position of the enemy and joined the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in the final rush and capture of the main position.’ (C.B.; Medal with clasp). He was commanding the 41st Regimental District, Cardiff, 1897-98, and was appointed Deputy Adjutant General in India in February 1899, commanding 2nd Class District, India, 1901-02. He retired in August 1902 and was promoted to Hon. Major-General in September 1917. Major-General MacCall, who was affectionately known as ‘Jackal’ in the regiment, died on 22 July 1921.
A fine Second War ‘Tobruk’ Brigade Major’s D.S.O., Order of St. John, group of eight awarded to Major G. Bestford, 6th South African Infantry Brigade Heaquarters, 2nd South African Division, a veteran of the Great War who was wounded in action whilst serving in the ranks of the 20th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish) on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme. Subsequently commissioned in to the 25th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Irish), Bestford joined the South African Police after the Great War. He was mobilised for service during the Second War, and was taken prisoner of war at the Fall of Tobruk, 21 June 1942. Bestford returned to the South African Police after the war, rose to District Commandant of Durban, and played a prominent role during the Royal Visit to South Africa in 1947 Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated ‘1946’, with integral top riband bar; The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s, breast badge, silver and enamels; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. Bestford.) severe edge bruise to BWM; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal, Second War campaign awards all officially impressed (SAP195478 G. Bestford) mounted as originally worn, and subsequently additionally mounted on card for display, generally nearly very fine or better (8) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 19 December 1946: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services at Tobruk in 1942.’ The original recommendation, given by Brigadier F. W. Cooper, O.C. 6 SA Bde, states: ‘From 10 Jan 42 to 21 Jun 42 Major Bestford was my [Brigadier F. W. Cooper, O.C. 6 SA Bde] Brigade Major. During that period he carried out his duties with entire disregard for his own comfort under what at times were very trying and dangerous conditions. He was mentioned in despatches for his work during operations at Sollum and Halfaya in Jan 42. During the period the brigade was attached to 1 S.A. Div. at Gazala - Mar - Apr 42 and during the period prior to the fall of Tobruk - Apr - Jun 42 his conduct was an example to all the work he put in over the six months, especially during the two vital days prior to the surrender, entitles him, in my opinion, to a D.S.O. for which I recommend him.’ Order of St John, Serving Brother, London Gazette 2 January 1953. M.I.D. London Gazette 15 December 1942: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November, 1941, to April, 1942.’ George Bestford was one of six sons born to Thomas Bestford, and was born in Gateshead, County Durham in October 1897. He was educated at the local Higher Grade Secondary School, and aged 17 falsified his age to enlist in the 20th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Scottish), 26 October 1914. Bestford advanced to Sergeant, and served with the Battalion in the French theatre of war from 9 January 1916. The Battalion served as part of the 102nd Infantry Brigade on the Somme, and Bestford was wounded in action, 1 July 1916. On the latter date the Battalion were fighting in tandem with the 4th Tyneside Scottish: ‘Owing to the artillery barrage and the intense machine gun fire and the distance (800 yds) of no man’s land to be traversed, the two battalions were almost wiped out, though the positions of the dead showed that they pushed on to the enemy’s second line of trenches before they were annihilated.’ (Battalion War Diary refers) On the first day of the Battle of the Somme the 20th Battalion suffered casualties of 16 officers and 337 other ranks killed, and 10 officers and 268 other ranks wounded. Bestford was amongst the latter, and was evacuated back to the UK. His South African Police service files show that he subsequently received a G.O.C.’s Divisional Commendation in recognition of his gallantry on 1 July 1916. Whilst recuperating from his wounds, Bestford would have received news that his brother William had been killed in action whilst serving with the Royal Engineers, 21 July 1916. The following month Bestford transferred as Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant to the 29th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Battalion, and then attached to the 84th Training Reserve Battalion at Hornsea. Major A. E. Ken recommended Bestford for a commission in March 1917: ‘This N.C.O. came very much under my observations, while at Home he attended several Courses of Instruction and on each one did very well indeed, on one occasion he came under the notice of the Brigadier who complimented him through his C.O. on his success... On Service he was even better, as a leader of men he is a success, I never knew him to shirk any danger or fatigues, and his coolness under Shell and Rifle fire is splendid. I regret to say his C.O. [Lieutenant Colonel C. Sillery] was killed as I knew that he had marked Sgt. Bestford out for distinction and no officers being left (All either killed or wounded) there was no one to put the recommendation forward. I think with a little training at a Cadet School he will make a very good Officer.’ After the requisite time with an Officer Cadet Battalion, Bestford was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers in October 1917. Bestford lost another brother, when his eldest brother Robert was killed in action serving with the Durham Light Infantry, 1 December 1917. Bestford was posted to France for service with the 25th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2nd Tyneside Irish). After the war he was attached as a Signalling Officer to the 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry for service in Syria and Egypt. Bestford advanced to Lieutenant in May 1919, and relinquished his commission in March of the following year. He sailed for Natal, South Africa in April 1921. Bestford joined the South African Police in June 1921, and advanced from Constable to Captain, District Officer and Station Officer by June 1940. He was appointed Captain, 1st South African Police Battalion, Union Defence Force later that month, and was appointed to the Staff Headquarters, 6th Infantry (Police) Brigade. Bestford embarked with the 2nd South African Division, and arrived in Egypt in June 1941. He served across North Africa, at the Battles of Sollum and Halfaya and was promoted Major in February 1942. Bestford served as Brigade Major, 6th South African Infantry Brigade Headquarters, and under constant attack from Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the Allied Forces retreated from the Gazala Line throughout May - June 1942. The Garrison at Tobruk became isolated and the majority of the 2nd South African Division was captured there, en masse, as prisoners of war, on the 21st June following General Orders to surrender. Unable to escape, Bestford was taken prisoner of war by the Italians and interned at Campo 75 (Bari). He was subsequently transferred to Germany, and interned in Stalag VII-A, Stalag V-C, and finally at Oflag XII-B at Hadamar. Bestford was repatriated in April 1945, and was recommended retrospectively for the D.S.O. Bestford returned to South Africa, and resumed his employment with the South African Police. He was appointed Commanding Officer, Police Training Depot, Pretoria. During the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to South Africa in 1947, Bestford had the honour of commanding the mounted escort and the Guard of Honour on special occasions throughout the tour. He was presented with his D.S.O. by the King at Voortrekkerhoogte, Preto...
Three: Corporal R. R. Patterson, 47th Battery, 44th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action during the First Battle of Ypres on 24 October 1914 1914 Star (33737 Cpl. R. R. Patterson. R.F.A.) with flattened lid to named card box of issue; British War and Victory Medals (33737 Cpl. R. R. Patterson. R.A.) with flattened lids to named card boxes of issue; Memorial Plaque (Robert Reilly Patterson) nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280 --- Robert Reilly Patterson was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and attested for the Royal Artillery in London in August 1904 aged 16 years and 2 months. He was promoted Corporal in March 1914 and, having been posted to the 47th (Howitzer) Battery in April of that year, served with them as part of the 44th (Howitzer) Brigade in Charles Munro’s 2nd Division during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1914. He was killed in action on 24 October 1914 during the First battle of Ypres. Private Patterson was the son of William John and Letitia Patterson of 5 Tadema Road, King’s Road, Chelsea, London and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Sold together with Record Office forwarding letters for Great War medals; forwarding letter for clasp for 1914 Star; and photograph of panel of Menin Gate Memorial bearing the recipient’s name.
A Serving Brother of St John group of seven awarded to Sapper E. L. Price, 21st Company, Inland Waterways and Docks, Royal Engineers, late Shropshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s, breast badge, silver and enamels; British War and Victory Medals (604121 Dvr. E. L. Price. R.A.) official correction to both initials and first letter of surname; Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (604121 Dvr. E. L. Price. R.A.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1953; Service Medal of the Order of St John, silver, straight bar suspension, with additional service bar (22774 A/Off. E. L. Price. No. 7 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1941) very fine or better (7) £180-£220 --- Edward Leonard Price was born in the Parish of Great Ness, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and attested for the Shropshire R.H.A. at Shrewsbury on 10 May 1913, aged 18 years 1 month, an engine cleaner employed by the Great Western Railway Company. Embodied in August 1914, he was posted to 293 Brigade R.F.A. and served in France from January 1917. He was admitted to Boulogne General Hospital on 4 April 1917 with an accidental bomb wound to his back. He shortly afterwards transferred as a Sapper to the 21st Company, Inland Waterways and Docks, Royal Engineers, with whom he served for the remainder of the war. His Medal Index Card notes that his British War and Victory Medals were returned for correction and the M.I.C. itself is corrected from ‘RICE’ to ‘PRICE’. Sold with copied attestation papers and confirmation of Coronation medal as ‘Member of the St John Ambulance Brigade on duty at the Coronation Service.’
The regimentally unique ‘Northern Ireland’ D.C.M., ‘Meritorious Service’ B.E.M. group of four awarded to Staff Sergeant Mick ‘The Rat’ Rattigan, 3rd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (23738257 A/Cpl. M. Rattigan. R.G.J.); British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (23738257 S. Sgt. M. Rattigan, D.C.M., R.G.J.); General Service Medal 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (23738257 Cpl. M. Rattignan. R.G.J.); Oman, Sultanate, Tenth Anniversary Medal, unnamed as issued, court mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine and better (4) £20,000-£30,000 --- One of just 19 D.C.M’s were awarded for the entire Northern Ireland conflict. D.C.M. London Gazette 24 July 1973. The original recommendation states: ‘On the afternoon of 28 August 1972 Lance-Corporal Rattigan was a member of a foot patrol in the Beechmont area of Belfast. Beechmount Avenue is notoriously dangerous as it gives gunmen and snipers long fields of fire and easy escape routes. At 1530 hours the patrol reached Beechmount Avenue and split up; one section moved on across the Avenue and up Beechmount Grove; the other carried on along the Avenue prior to taking up a parallel route up Beechmount Pass. At this stage Lance-Corporal Rattigan’s Section Commander stopped and searched a passer by. He was about to release him when six high velocity shots were fired at the patrol from the western end of Beechmount Avenue. The patrol returned fire and, under the direction of the Platoon Commander began to manoeuvre out of their extremely exposed position on the Avenue and into the building site. The Section Commander [Corporal Ian Morrill] had been fatally wounded in this first burst of fire. As soon as he realised this, and saw that the Section Commander was being given such medical assistance as was possible, Lance-Corporal Rattigan immediately took over command of the section, nominated a Rifleman as his second in command, and supervised the move to better fire positions. In order to locate the gunmen and to improve individual fire positions Lance-Corporal Rattigan exposed himself to fire several times. He acted decisively and with considerable courage throughout this incident and commanded his section with skill in the ensuing hot pursuit. Later that same day, at 2230 hrs, he was on patrol in Locan Street. Two gunmen were seen at the top of St. Mary’s Practising Primary School. Under his direction the section sniper fired two shots at the gunmen. Eight shots were immediately returned. Throughout the gun battle which followed Lance-Corporal Rattigan kept a very firm grip on his section and gave excellent fire control orders. On the afternoon of 22 October Lance-Corporal Rattigan (by now promoted to Corporal) was on a mobile patrol on the Springfield Road when he noticed three men standing by a bus stop. He thought there was something suspicious about them and decided to investigate. The first man he searched, a Protestant, was found to be carrying a loaded Luger pistol with a round up the breach. One of the other men was a Catholic. These men were subsequently screened and the Protestant duly charged. It seems likely that he was the gunman of an assassination squad and the Catholic was his intended victim who owes his life to Corporal Rattigan’s alertness. These three incidents typify Corporal Rattigan’s success as a section commander. But in addition to specific acts of leadership in difficult and dangerous situations Corporal Rattigan was first class in his dealings with the local population. As a result he was held in very high regard as a tough, able but also reasonable and courteous N.C.O. by both the Catholic and Protestant communities in his platoon and section area on the Lower Woodvale interface. Corporal Rattigan’s all round performance throughout the four month operational tour in Belfast has been outstanding.’ B.E.M. London Gazette 30 December 1985. (Colour Sergeant, Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion). Michael Rattigan - ‘Mick the Rat’ to those who knew him - was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire. ‘He rose to the rank of colour sergeant in the Royal Green Jackets and was enormously respected within the regiment, in particular by the many men he trained in his later years as an instructor. He is remembered as a scrupulously fair and honest NCO. After leaving the army, Mick found adjusting to mundane civilian life difficult. He had a number of jobs, mainly in security, but in the mid 1980s worked in Saudi Arabia providing military training, and later in Mozambique, where one close shave too many convinced him that he was too old to be playing soldiers. After returning to live in Kent he managed property for a number of years. He died in Hythe in 2008.’ (Deeds of Heroes: The Story of The Distinguished Conduct Medal 1854-1993, by Matthew Richardson refers) Sold together with a copy of the original recommendation for the DCM signed by the recipient; letters of congratulation on award of DCM (4) from Lieutenant Colonel L. L. Dunphie, MC; Major General R. E. Worsley, OBE; Brigadier A. L. Watson; and the OC, 39 Infantry Brigade; a copy of detailed original recommendation for BEM; a letter from Ameed Rukn, Deputy Commander Sultan of Oman’s Land Forces congratulating Rattigan on the award of his BEM; and a photo of recipient whilst serving with the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces in December 1985.
A Great War D.S.M. awarded to Engine Room Artificer J. N. Reed, Royal Naval Reserve, for services aboard the destroyer Moresby when she and her sister ship Michael sank the German submarine U-110 in the North West Approaches on 15 March 1918 Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (EA.1163. J. N. Reed, E.R.A. R.N.R. “Moresby” Atlantic. 15. Mch. 1918) nearly very fine £700-£900 --- D.S.M. London Gazette 14 September 1918: ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’ James Nesbit Reed was born at Newcastle on Tyne on 18 December 1889. He enrolled in the R.N.R. as an Engine Room Artificer on 31 August 1914, and after service in Woolwich and Druid, was transferred, on 28 April 1916, to the newly built destroyer H.M.S. Moresby in which he was soon engaged at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. At Jutland, Moresby screened the First Battle Cruiser Squadron as one of twelve destroyers operating with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla and was successful in sinking the German destroyer V. 4 by torpedo. Remaining in Moresby until the conclusion of the war, Reed was present in her on 15 March 1918, at the sinking of U-110, a type 93 U-boat which had among its list of 10 previous victims, the celebrated Q-Ship H.M.S. Penshurst. When found north-west of Malin Head by Moresby and another destroyer H.M.S. Michael, she had just torpedoed and sunk the 10,000 tonne British ocean liner Amazon and was promptly sent to the bottom by depth charges from the British destroyers with the loss of 39 men. All of Amazon’s passengers and 9 surviving crew members from U-110 were rescued by Moresby. Sold with copied service records and other research which confirm entitlement to 1914-15 Star trio and R.N.R. L.S. & G.C., this last awarded on 22 February 1930.
Three: Captain R. B. Creyke, Royal Navy Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (R. B. Creyke, Mate.); Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; St. Jean d’Acre 1840, silver, unnamed as issued, fitted with contemporary replacement silver bar suspension, each medal fitted with silver ribbon buckle and long pin for wearing, nearly extremely fine (3) £1,000-£1,400 --- Provenance: Glendining’s, March 1998, when mounted in glass fronted display case, the black-on-gold painted labels from which accompany the group. Richard Boynton Creyke entered the Navy in July, 1829, as first-class volunteer on board the Atholl, on the west coast of Africa, from which vessel, in April, !831, he was transferred to the Medina, where he remained until July of the same year. He joined the Ocean as a midshipman in December, 1831, the Magpie in November, 1832, and the Rolla in November, 1833. In these vessels he was employed at Sheerness, and on the North Sea and Lisbon stations. He went to the Mediterranean in April, 1834, in the Revenge, and as a Mate became attached to the Bellerophon in May, 1838. In the Bellerophon, as a Mate, he took part in the operations on the coast of Syria, and was present at the bombardment of St. Jean D’Acre. In July, 1841, he was appointed to the revenue cutter Defence, employed in the North Sea, and was transferred, in July, 1843, to the steam vessel Blazer, Captain John Washington (afterwards Hydrographer) employed on surveying service in the same neighbourhood. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in September, 1843. From February, 1844, to October, 1845, he served on the west coast of Africa in the Penelope, Alert, and Growler, the former being the Commodore’s vessel on that station. He commanded the boats of the Alert in an attack on pirates at the Arguin islands, near Cape Blanco, for which he was mentioned favourably in the despatches of the Commodore. In January, 1846, he was appointed to the survey of the west coast of Scotland, under Captain C. G. Robinson, in the Shearwater, and in October of the same year was made an Assistant-Surveyor. In October, 1847, his name was transferred to the books of the San Josef and subsequently to the Impregnable and Fisgard, his services throughout being continued in the survey of the west coast of Scotland. In February, 1855, Lieutenant Creyke was appointed First Lieutenant of the Merlin, Captain Bartholomew J. Sulivan, attached to the Baltic fleet, in which vessel he assisted in surveying the north part of Cronstadt, as well as the vicinity of Sweaborg, previous to its bombardment, at which he was present. For his services on this occasion he was so strongly recommended by the Commander-in-Chief to the favourable consideration of their lordships, that he was promoted to the rank of Commander in September of the same year, and in the following November again resumed his duties as an Assistant-Surveyor on the west coast of Scotland, under Captain E. J. Bedford, with whom, as Chief Assistant-Surveyor, he continued to serve until about the year 1861. He was promoted to be Retired Captain on 11 February 1862, in consideration of his services and the impaired state of his health. For his war services Captain Creyke has received the Syrian and Baltic medals. For the recipient’s miniature dress medals, see Lot 639.
The unique ‘Light Brigade’ group of four awarded to Captain T. G. Johnson, 13th Hussars, later Major, West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry, who was twice decorated by the French Emperor for his Distinguished Services in the Crimea- the only Light Brigade participant so honoured- and whose letter to his brother describing his participation in the Charge was one of the earliest to be published in the British Press Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, lugs removed from top clasp (Regt. Serjt. Major, Thomas George Johnson. 13th. Light Dragoons) Regimentally impressed naming in serif capitals; France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gold appliqué, and enamel, France, Second Empire, Medaille Militaire, eagle suspension, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, blue enamel damage and traces of restoration to bands around central medallions; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (T G Johnson 13th Light Dragoons) Regimentally impressed naming in serif capitals, with contemporary silver swivel suspension, all with plain top silver riband bars, and housed in a fitted gilt frame, lacking glazing, the gilt mount engraved ‘Major T. G. Johnson, Late Captain, 13th Hussars’, light contact marks, generally very fine or better (4) £8,000-£12,000 --- Provenance: Spink, November 2004. Thomas George Johnson was born in Maidstone, Kent, in March 1824, the son of John Thomas Johnson, who at the time of his birth was serving as a Schoolmaster Sergeant with the Cavalry Depot of the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars. On 27 March 1837, at the age of 13 years and by ‘Special Authority’, he enlisted in the 4th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Light Dragoons at the Maidstone Cavalry Depot. He was appointed a Trumpeter on 24 May 1837 and, save for a six month period in early 1839, he retained this rank until 1 September 1846 when he transferred to the 13th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, then based in Dublin, in the rank of Private. He was promoted Corporal on 1 February 1848 and Sergeant on 25 May 1853. He embarked with the Regiment for the Crimea at Portsmouth in May 1854 and arrived at the Bulgarian city of Varna, on the coast of the Black Sea, on 2 June 1854. A few weeks later, on 25 June, Johnson was one of a patrol of 195 men under Lord Cardigan that was sent north to the River Danube to ‘ascertain the movements of the enemy’. This became known as the Soreback Reconnaissance because of the extremes of heat, thirst, and hunger endured by the patrol over a seventeen day period. In September 1854 the 13th Light Dragoons sailed from Varna for the Crimea- unfortunately during the voyage Johnson fell down the main hatchway on board his ship and was invalided to Scutati Hospital between 16 September and 7 October, thus missing the Battle of the Alma. The Charge of the Light Brigade Johnson had returned to his regiment in time to participate in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava on 25 October 1854, and in a letter to his brother John, dated 7 November 1854, he includes a first-hand account of the Charge as follows: ‘My dearest Brother, I can say but a few words. When last I wrote to you we were on the point of embarking for the Crimea; unfortunately I met with a severe accident, fell down the main hatchway and have to thank God I was not killed. I went to the General Hospital at Scutari, consequently was out of Alma, but joined the regiment as soon as possible, being anxious to participate in the next honours. Joined at Balaklava where we passed some weeks in the most arduous and harassing duties, both of outposts and pickets, almost surrounded by Cossacks, and we were obliged to be continually on the alert. At last we engaged them, but I suppose of this you have the account. On the 25th October the enemy advanced and stormed our advanced position on some hills which were well fortified and unfortunately occupied by the Turks. The rascals fled before the Russians came within 150 yards of the forts, our artillery came up and the 13th covered the guns where we were exposed to shot and shell for upwards of two hours, but the positions being lost we slowly retired a short distance. The Russians advanced direct on to us on the ground of our camp, our heavy dragoons were ordered to charge them, and they fled although their numbers were sufficient to overwhelm our handful of cavalry. At this time the light brigade was formed up on the left on some hills which commanded a long valley about two miles, at the end of which the enemy retired. By some misunderstanding we were ordered to advance and charge their guns which they had formed up full in our fronts at the extreme end, and here took place a scene and act unparalleled in history. We had scarcely advanced a few yards before they opened on us with grape and shell. It was a perfect level, the ground only wide enough for the 17th and 13th to advance, the rest of the brigade following. To our astonishment they had batteries on each side of the hills which commanded the whole valley; consequently a dreadful crossfire was opened on us from both sides and in front but it was too late to do anything but advance, which we did in a style truly wonderful, every man feeling certain that we must be annihilated; still we continued on up to the very guns, charged them, took them, but there being no support we were obliged to retire almost cut up. Out of our regiment we assembled 10 men mounted and one or two officers. Our Colonel being sick and our Major gone home we were commanded by the senior Captain. Two captains were killed and one lieutenant. Poor Weston was killed and two other sergeant-majors taken prisoners. The others were either killed, taken prisoners or dismounted. Of course the remainder retired and here the firing was worse than ever for the infantry aimed at us as we passed. I escaped thank God without a scratch though my horse got shot through the head and in the hind quarters, and a lance was thrust through my shoe case. It was a most unwise and mad act. One thing, there is no blame attached to the Earl of Cardigan for he was ordered to do it and he did it most nobly. We rode up to the very mouth of the guns and since then the 17th and ourselves have scarcely been able to muster one squadron between us. The 4th Light Dragoons are nearly as bad. The Earl is very much cut up concerning it and points it out to the officers as the effects of charging batteries. There never was a more splendid Light Brigade before the battle, but now it is reduced almost to nothing. The daring of the thing astonished and frightened the enemy. The shattered Remains of the Light Brigade moved up here near Sebastopol shortly afterwards and have remained pretty quiet with the exception of the continued bombardment dinning in our ears from morning to night, until the morning of the 5th November when the Russians appeared in force and we had then a most glorious but awful day. They estimated the loss of the Russians at from 13,000 to 15,000. Our loss is very great. The Duke of Cambridge had his horse shot under him and Sir G Brown was wounded, General Lord Cathcart was killed and many colonels and other officers were either killed or dangerously wounded. The battle lasted 7 hours and the Grenadier Guards were nearly cut to pieces. We brigaded for the first time with the French cavalry but were not engaged this day although exposed to shot and shell. We lost some horses and a fine young fellow, an officer of the 17th Lancers, was killed- a shell burst in the midst of them, he was the only one hurt and he survived but a few hours afterwards. We only lost a few men. You will, I know, excuse this rambling scrawl as I have been disturbed fifty times whilst writing it, but I am sure it will be welcome. Many thanks for the newspapers, they are a source of gr...
The exceptional and rare Indian Mutiny and Red River 1870 campaign group of three awarded to Staff Sergeant Instructor John ‘Mac’ McNaughten, Hertfordshire Rifle Volunteers, late 60th Royal Rifles and ‘Meerut Elephant Corps’ Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (J. McNaughten, 1st Bn. 60th Rifles); Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Red River 1870 (3192 Sgt. J. McNaughton, 1/60 K.O.R.) officially engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3192 Serjt. J. McNaughten, 1-60th Foot.) the first with refixed suspension post, polished with edge bruising and contact marks, fine, otherwise very fine and better (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- An extremely rare combination of medals, one of only three such to the army. John 'Mac' McNaughten was born in Chelsea, London in June 1834 and enlisted in 1/60th Royal Rifles in September 1852, aged 18 years. Embarked for India in the following year, he was present at the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut on 10 May 1857, when the regiment had the sorry task of recovering the butchered remains of the garrison's women and children. Regimental musters confirm that McNaughten was serving in either 'B' Company or 'G' Company at this time and, as such, he would have been allocated to the ‘Elephant Corps’ under Lieutenant Stanley Mortimer. With four riflemen to each elephant, and 50 men of the ‘Meerut Volunteer Horse’, Mortimer set off in pursuit of the rebel leader Sah Mull; the mutineers were put to flight in a hotly contested action at Bussowd on 29 July 1857. His services in Meerut's Elephant Corps happily concluded, McNaughten was ordered to Delhi in the following month. He arrived there in time for the storming of the city on 14 September 1857, when the Battalion's multiple-V.C.-winning ranks suffered 20% casualties (Medal and clasp). Following further service in the Oudh, McNaughten was advanced to Corporal in February 1859 and to Sergeant in August 1860. He returned to the U.K. at the year's end. He was next embarked for Canada, via Malta, in September 1867, where he participated in the Red River Expedition of 1870, serving in Captain Buller’s “C” Company (Medal and clasp). He returned to the U.K. in September 1873 and was discharged at Gosport in the same month. Awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in May 1874, McNaughten was next appointed a Staff Sergeant-Instructor in the Hertfordshire Rifle Volunteers and he served in that capacity until December 1887. The 1901 Census reveals that he was employed as a Bailiff for a County Court and he died at Wear, Hertford in July 1907; above details courtesy of the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, Winchester.
The unique Red River 1879 and Afghanistan campaign group awarded to Major H. S. Marsham, 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Red River 1870 (Lt. H. S. Marsham. 1/60. K.O.R.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (Captain. Hy. S. Marsham, 2/60th Foot) mounted for display purposes with an erased Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880, the second with light pitting from star, otherwise very fine, the first nearly extremely fine and very rare (3) £5,000-£7,000 --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2001, the first two only, the erased Kabul to Kandahar Star since added for display purposes. Only 28 medals issued to British officers with the ‘Red River 1870’ clasp. This clasp in combination with the medal for the Afghanistan campaign occurs only twice, without clasp to Ensign Riddell (pair in the Rifles Museum) and with two clasps to Captain Marsham. Henry Savill Marsham was born in Norfolk on 19 January 1847, eldest son of Henry P. Marsham of Rippon Hall, Hevingham. He was educated at Eton and joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in December 1865. He served as Adjutant with the 1st Battalion in the Red River Expedition in 1870 (Medal with Clasp); with the 2nd Battalion in the Afghan war from October 1878 to November 1880, took part in the advance on and occupation of Kandahar and Kelat-I-Ghilzie, and was present in the engagements at Ahmed Khel and Urzoo near Ghuznee; accompanied Sir Frederick Roberts in the march to Kandahar, and was present at the battle of Kandahar; and served in the Marri Expedition under Brigadier General MacGregor in October 1880 (mentioned in despatches London Gazette 3 December 1880, Medal with two Clasps, and Bronze Decoration). In January 1881, Marsham embarked with the battalion at Bombay for Natal, South Africa, for service against the Boers of the Transvaal in 1881. He was promoted to Major in December 1882, and retired from the Army in December 1888. He was subsequently a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of Norfolk, Lord of the Manor of Cats-cum-Cricketots, and patron of the livings of Stratton Strawless, Brampton, and Wramplingham. He was for forty years a magistrate, occupying for many years the chairmanship of the Aylsham Bench. He died, shortly after his 91st birthday, in April 1937. Sold with copied research including news cuttings describing ‘A Grand Old Man of Norfolk’ on the occasion of his 91st birthday, and three obituary notices.
Three: Petty Officer First Class T. Middleton, Royal Navy Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, The Nile 1884-85 (T. Middleton. Boy. 1.Cl. H.M.S. “Monarch”.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu 1890 (T. Middleton, P.O. 1st. Cl., H.M.S. Conquest.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, light pitting, otherwise very fine and better (3) £360-£440
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