Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
Simeon John Menadue was a native of Scorrier, St Day, Cornwall, and was a miner prior to the Great War. He initially enlisted in the 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Cornwall Pioneers) before serving during the Great War with the 251st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers in the French theatre of war from 10 October 1915.
The 251st Tunnelling Company served at Givenchy for the entirety of its’ war service. The following detail behind Menadue’s gallantry at Givenchy, in which he helped rescue Captain Walker, M.C., during the German Spring Offensive of 1918, is given in The Tunnellers by Captain W. Grant Grieve and B. Newman:
‘On 17th April, after a period of nine days in the line, the party at Givenchy was relieved by Captain Walker, M.C., Lieutenants Rees and Marsland and thirty-nine other ranks. Owing to the situation prevailing at the time, and the strong possibility of a further German onslaught, the Tunnellers were told off to special stations to assist the infantry in resisting the threatened attack. Their positions were as follows: Lieutenant Marsland, one N.C.O. and three other ranks at Moat Farm entrance to Bunny Hutch Subway, Lieutenant Rees and a party of twenty men at No. 4 shaft penthouse and the sap leading thereto. (This was rather an exposed position, but it was excellently sited to cover the north side of Caledonian Road penthouse and Moat Farm entrance.) One N.C.O. and four men in Givenchy Keep dugout system to act as guides and maintain liaison between the garrison in Givenchy Keep and Mairie Redoubt. Colonel Evans, 1st Black Watch, approved of these dispositions on the evening of the 17th April.
The Tunnellers then went about their lawful occupations of pumping, listening and maintenance in the mines, dugouts and subways.
Since 9th April almost incessant shelling had been directed on Givenchy, particularly on strong points like Moat Farm and Givenchy Keep, the exact location of which, no doubt, the enemy had noted during his brief occupation. They had resisted very well, although numerous direct hits had been registered on them. Scarcely a vestige of habitable trench remained.
On 18th April, after a bombardment of unprecedented severity which lasted eight hours, during which reserve and battery positions received a continual drench of gas shelling, the enemy launched a second attack on Givenchy. Again he succeeded in overrunning the first defences, and got possession of the shaft top at Moat Farm dugouts. A counter-attack was launched, in which the Tunnellers assisted the infantry, and relieved the pressure on the garrison in Caledonian Road penthouse. The senior infantry officer was killed and a second attack was led by Captain Walker, R.E. During this attack Walker was wounded severely in the leg by machine-gun fire. He managed to crawl back to Bunny Hatch Subway, and from there he continued to direct operations, and continually urged NO surrender! The Tunnellers were now the only defenders of the Moat Farm entrance. Beaten back from the entrance by bombs, they built a barricade farther back.
By early afternoon the subway had become congested with wounded, estimated at about two hundred. The enemy had gained possession of the entrances, and threatened to spray down gas unless the garrison surrendered. The hopelessness of the situation was further aggravated by the fact that supplies of bombs and ammunition had given out. In order to save the wounded further unnecessary suffering therefore, no further resistance was offered, and all the troops in the subway, including the survivors of two companies of the 1st Black Watch of the 1st Division were taken prisoner. They were ordered by the Germans, upon pain of death, to evacuate the subway via No. 3 shaft - and their order of going was arranged for them. N.C.O’s were to proceed first, followed by other ranks. In spite of the threat of death, three sappers secreted themselves behind pumps, tools and sandbags, eluded their captors, and so escaped.
Captain Walker was on a stretcher and Sergeants Newell and Menadue constituted themselves his bearers. As he could not be evacuated through the spiral stairway in No. 3 shaft, he was to be taken out via Moat Farm entrance, which he had so well defended. Accompanied by Sapper Turner and another sapper, they set off for Germany - at least so their captors thought! On approaching the entrance at Moat Farm, Sergeant Menadue went forward quietly to reconnoitre. There were two sentries at the entrance, both of whom he dealt with effectively. When the remainder of the party reached the surface they “changed direction” and made for Pont Fixe and not captivity.
Such incidents as these illustrate why the British Army is hard to beat. N.C.O.’s and men, when thrown on their own initiative, are seldom at a loss as to the action appropriate to the occasion, and they act quickly, without consulting the drill book. For his exemplary conduct Menadue was awarded the D.C.M. As a result of his wound, however, Captain Walker’s leg had to be amputated.... Of the three officers and thirty-nine other ranks who went into the line on the 17th, one officer and six other ranks returned to Company H.Q., the remainder being killed or captured.’
After the war Menadue returned to Cornwall and was employed at Tresavean Mine until its closure. He then worked at the Seleggan tin smelting works at Carnkie. Menadue resided at Higher Pennance, Lanner and died at St. Lawrence’s Hospital, Bodmin in August 1963. He is buried at Lannerth Parish Church, Lanner.
Sold with two original photographs of the recipient in uniform, a newspaper cutting for his obituary, and copied research.
51
A scarce Great War 1918 ‘French theatre’ D.C.M. pair awarded to Chief Petty Officer H. J. Simon, Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (L5-3122 A. Chf: P.O. H. J. Simon: Drake Bn: R.N.V.R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (L.5-3122 H. J. Simon Act. C.P.O. R.N.V.R.) generally very fine or better (2)
£700-£900 D.C.M. London Gazette 17 April 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During lengthy operations, by his courage and ability, he invariably secured the supply of rations, frequently under heavy shell fire.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 5 July 1919. (France)
H. J. Simon was a native of Hurst, Bexley. He served during the Great War with ‘C’ Company, Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from August 1914 (entitled to Star). Simon advanced to Petty Officer and served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from September 1915. After several Staff roles he returned to Drake Battalion, advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer, and served with the them in the French theatre of war from May 1916. Simon was demobilised in February 1919.
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A Great War 1915 ‘Western Front’ I.D.S.M. awarded to Jemadir Hamid, 58th Vaughan’s Rifles, Frontier Force
Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Jemr. Hamid, 58th. Rif. F.F.) polished, minor edge bruise, good very fine
£400-£500 I.D.S.M. London Gazette 18 February 1915: ‘In recognition of his gallantry whilst serving with the Indian Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force.’
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