Campaign Groups and Pairs
A certified true copy of his Certificate for Wounds and Hurts states: ‘Roland (sic) Harper, Armourer, belonging to His Majesty’s Ship Pembroke, Naval Air Service, being then actually upon His Majesty’s Service in serving a machine gun in an armed Car, in Action was wounded on September 27th 1914 by rifle bullets. The injuries being, bullet wound of Chest, serious, wound of neck, compound fracture left arm, wound of left leg. Owing to this rating falling into the enemy’s hands, no minute description of wounds available. Signed by Commander C. R. Samson, December 30th, 1914’.
C.P.O. Harper is mentioned in John Oliver’s book, Samson and the Dunkirk Circus, 3 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, 1914-15: ‘Samson was now under the command of General Paris but at 0700hrs on 27th September he received orders from the French General Plantey to carry out a reconnaissance in the direction of Lewarde to the south of Erchin. Samson had left Captain M. Williams, R.M.A., and his section of three brand new Rolls-Royce armoured cars at Douai to support the French as they were coming under increasing pressure from the Germans. The massing of French troops and the RNAS in the Douai area was supposed to be for an attack into the German rear and communications area, which would have caused great confusion and taken the pressure off the BEF and the French army, but the Germans were in far greater strength than anticipated and slowly built the pressure up around Douai. It turned into a siege and the British and French attack was stopped before it could start.
The new Rolls-Royce armoured cars were the same basic design as the Wolseley and like them gave the crew no protection. Captain Williams and his men were just off the boat from England and had no experience of fighting the Germans using the armoured car. The French asked Williams to carry out a patrol. He set off and they drove into a German trap. Three men were wounded. CPO Roland (sic) Harper and AB Leonard W Welsh both took a burst from a machine-gun and were severely injured, while Williams himself was slightly wounded in the hand. All three were taken to hospital in Douai then Williams was recalled to Morbecque to recover from his wound. This was the worst day so far for Samson’s command.
The French doctors at the hospital in Douai decided it was time to move all the wounded men back to a safe place. However, CPO Harper and AB Welsh were too badly wounded to move and when the Germans captured Douai these two men became POWs. Both survived the war.’
Harper was transferred from Germany to Switzerland on 27 November 1917, where he was interned at Chateau d’Oex and his life greatly improved. In July 1918 his fiancée, Mabel Hancock, obtained permission to visit him in Switzerland where they married.
Sold with a good and comprehensive quantity of original letters, documents, photographs,. postcards, buttons and badges relating to Rowland Harper, and others relating to his marriage and his son, also Rowland, together with the B.W.M. issued to his brother William, R.A.S.C., who died in France on 31 October 1918, and related documents and letters; also an Omega travelling clock in damaged case, the reverse engraved ‘Presented to M.M-& Mrs R. Harper From Sgts Chateau-d’Oex 20th August 1918’, and another small cased pocket watch by H. Samuel. All contained in an old leather brief case together together with additional research and a copy of John Oliver’s book.
211 Four: Engine Room Artificer G. Farmer, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
1914 Star, with copy clasp (SX.5/169. G. Farmer. A.B. R.N.V.R. Howe Bttn. R.N.D.) attempt to obliterate rate; British War and Victory Medals (M.19363 G. Farmer. Act. E.R.A. 4 R.N.); Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (M.19363 G. Farmer. E.R.A.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4)
£140-£180
George Farmer was born in St. Leonards, Sussex, on 26 August 1893 and joined the Sussex Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 25 August 1910. He served during the Great War as an Able Seaman with the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, before transferring to the Royal Navy for the duration of hostilities as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 15 March 1916.
212 Pair: Private J. E. Ward, 7th Dragoon Guards
1914 Star (5369 Pte J. E. Ward. 7/D. Gds.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (D-5369 Pte. J. E. Ward. 7-D. Gds.) generally very fine or better (2)
£50-£60 Joseph E. Ward served during the Great War with the 7th Dragoon Guards in the French theatre of war from 13 October 1914. 213 Three: Private C. H. Grigsbe, 9th Lancers, who was wounded and taken Prisoner of War on 24 August 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (550 Pte. C. H. Grigsbe. 9/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-550 Pte. C. H. Grigsbe. 9-Lrs.) light contact marks, good very fine (3)
£200-£240
Charles Henry Grigsbe was born in Bethnal Green, London, in 1886, and attested originally for the Royal Fusiliers, before transferring to the 21st Lancers, and then, prior to 1911, to the 9th Lancers. Mobilised following the outbreak of the Great War, he served with “A” Squadron on the Western Front from 15 August 1914.
On 24 August 1914, Brigadier-General de Lisle, General Officer Commanding, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell of the 9th Lancers to deliver a mounted charge into the right flank of the attacking Germans, if the opportunity arose. “L” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, took up position behind the railway line to the east of Audregnies. The 9th Lancers with 2 troops of 4th Dragoon Guards advanced at the gallop and crossed the Baisieux-Elouges road. The force of cavalry found themselves in an area crossed by hedges, fences and ditches. The charge was brought up short by a wire fence and the squadrons came under heavy artillery fire. The 9th Lancers split up, one group dismounted and took up positions around the sugar factory, another retired to the mineral railway line, where they joined the 18th Hussars and a third headed back to Audregnies.
Grigsbe was reported wounded and missing during this action. Taken Prisoner of War, he spent the rest of the War in captivity, finally being repatriated on 24 December 1918. He was discharged on 3 April 1919.
Sold with copied research. 214 Three: Private G. McGough, 1st Battalion, Liverpool Regiment
1914 Star, with clasp (11642 Pte G. McGough. 1/L’Pool R.); British War and Victory Medals (11642 Pte. G. McGough. L’Pool R.) generally nearly very fine or better (3)
£80-£100
George McGough served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, Liverpool Regiment in the French theatre of war from 12 August 1914.
215 Three: Bandsman E. Howard, 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
1914 Star, with copy clasp (8055 Bndsmn: E. Howard. 1/N. Staff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (8055 Pte. E. Howard. N. Staff. R.) worn, good fine or better (3)
£70-£90
Edgar Howard served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 10 September 1914.
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