GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
1321
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private H. McBain, 43rd Battalion Canadian Infantry,
killed in action, 8 October 1916
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (153771 Pte., 43/Can. Inf. Bn.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (153771 Pte., 43-Can. Inf.);
CANADIAN MEMORIAL CROSS, G.V.R. (153771 Pte. H. McBain, M.M.) extremely fine (4) £600-700
M.M. London Gazette 6 January 1917.
Harry McBain was the son of Mr H. A. and Mrs Jane McBain of 190 King Street, Aberdeen, Scotland. Serving as a Private in the 43rd
Battalion Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), he was killed in action on 8 October 1916, aged 24 years. Having no known grave,
his name is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
1322
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Serjeant L. Cautley, Yorkshire Regiment, who died in Italy, 28 October
1918
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (12365 Sjt., 8/York. R.) good very fine £240-280
Lawrence Cautley was born in Hedon, Yorkshire in December 1894. He joined the 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
and landed with them in France as a Corporal on 26 August 1915. The Battalion formed part of the 69th Brigade, 23rd Division. The
8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment took part in the Battle of Loos and on 1 July 1916 moved to Bazieux Wood for the Battle of the
Somme. Here they joined the 9th Yorkshire Regiment in the attack on Horseshoe Trench. At 0450hrs on the 10th July the Battalion
went “Over the Top” in an attack on the village of Contalmaison however, they found the wire had not been cut and began to suffer
heavy casualties from concentrated machine gun and rifle fire. Only four officers and 150 men reached the village but this force
resisted continual counter attacks and captured over 250 prisoners. 300 men of the Battalion became casualties. The Battalion
remained in forward positions until 6 August when they formed up again to capture the German position of Munster Alley. In this
attack, Private William Short of the 8th Battalion earned the Victoria Cross. He was leading a bombing attack through the trenches
when he was severely wounded. He brushed aside the stretcher-bearers and continued to throw grenades and finally prepared
grenades for his colleagues to throw, until he was killed. The Battalion remained in the front line until 12 October 1916 when they
entrained for the Ypres Sector. For his gallantry during this period Serjeant Cautley was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 9
December 1916).
On 13 November 1917 the 8th Battalion, still part of 69th Brigade, 23rd Division, landed in Italy. They formed part of 10th Army with
two other British Divisions the 7th and 48th. They were engaged in the Battles of Piave and finally in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto
where the Italians achieved a major victory. On 24 October the 8th Yorks attacked Monte Grappa and suffered heavy casualties,
including Acting Warrant Officer Lawrence Cautley M.M., who died in a hospital in Genoa on 28 October 1918 (note Soldiers Died in
the Great War states ‘Died’ rather than K.I.A. or ‘died of wounds’). Cautley was buried in the Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa. His parents
William and Margaret Holmes Cautley were then living at 1, George Street, Hedon, Hull. With copied research, together with a C.D.
with 34 pictures of the cemetery and Cautley’s grave, and includes photos of the graves of two S.A.S. soldiers who were captured and
killed during W.W.2.
1323
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Lance-Bombardier A. E. Dean, Royal Field Artillery
MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (39730 L. Bmbr., ‘A’ By. 107/Bde. R.F.A.) good very fine £160-200
M.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918.
Alfred E. Dean was born in Hull, Yorkshire. A Engineer by occupation, he attested for service in the Artillery at Hull on 2 October
1914, aged 19 years, 8 months. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 31 August 1915 and served with 107 Brigade which
was Divisional Artillery of the 24th Division. The Division took part in the Battle of Loos, Battle of the Somme, the Third Battle of Ypres
1917, and Battle of St Quentin in 1918 when the Germans launched their last major offensive. By 4 April 1918, 107 Brigade in support
of the French Army had lost the Battery Commander of ‘C’ Battery and two of its three guns and every man in both detachments had
been killed. The remaining guns then engaged the enemy over open sights and “Once again the Germans experienced the devastating
effect of 18 pounder shrapnel bursting low and accurately amongst them.” (Official History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery refers).
For his bravery in these actions Alfred Dean, then a Lance-Bombardier in ‘A’ Battery, was awarded the Military Medal. With some
copied research.
www.dnw.co.uk
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