Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 45
A Great War M.C. group of seven awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major B. E. Rabjohn, 20th Hussars, later R.S.M. of 13th/18th Hussars
Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse inscribed ‘47296 R.S.M. B. E. Rabjohn 20th Hussars 1918’; 1914-15 Star (4973 Pte. B. Rabjohn. 20th. Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (4973 W.O. Cl. 2. B. Rabjohn. 20-Hrs.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (538397 W.O. Cl. 1 B. Rabjohn. 13-18-Hrs.) together with companion set of seven miniature medals, both sets mounted for display but some ribbons perished, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (14)
£1,200-£1,500
M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘47296 S./M. Byron Edward Rabjohn, 20th Hrs.’ One of only 18 Warrant Officer recipients of the M.C. to cavalry regiments and one of two to the 20th Hussars.
M.I.D. London Gazette 5 July 1919 (France - R.S.M., 20th Hussars).
Byron Edward Rabjohn joined the 20th hussars in 1905, becoming R.S.M. of that regiment in 1918. Before proceeding to France in July 1915, Rabjohn had a very lucky escape when his house was bombed, as reported in The Essex County Chronicle, Friday, Feb. 26, 1915:
‘AIR RAID on ESSEX. Bombs in Three Towns. First Incendiary Bombs for England.
A raid from the air, happily marked by a singular lack of success, was made upon Essex by a German aeroplane on Sunday evening. A circuitous route seems to have been made from the sea - a distance of just over a hundred miles from the Belgian coast - and two incendiary bombs were dropped (in Fields) at Braintree; one explosive bomb was dropped (in a field) at Coggeshall, and did very little damage; and one explosive bomb was dropped at Colchester, this last in the garden of No. 41 Butt Road, near the barracks and encampment.
There was no injury, but a baby at Colchester had a narrow escape. The Colchester bomb exploded in the garden of the house, 41 Butt Road, tenanted by Quarter-Master-Sergeant Rabjohn, of the 29th Hussars. All the furniture in the back room was wrecked, and shrapnel bullets flew from the projectile, but the Sergeant and his wife, who were sitting in the front room, and their baby, lying peacefully asleep upstairs, escaped injury, although part of the bedroom ceiling was smashed. Presentations were made at Braintree on Monday evening to soldiers of the Sherwood Foresters for the gallantry they displayed in handling the bombs, which were the first incendiary bombs that have appeared in England. The following would appear to be the aviator’s route, and the times at which he was heard:- Brightlingsea, 7.45; Coggeshall, 8.25; Braintree, 8.30; Coggeshall (return journey), 8.35; Colchester, 8.40. Then away in the direction of Harwich and over the sea.’
During the amalgamation of Cavalry Regiments in 1922, he was transferred to the 13th/18th Hussars as that Regiment’s first R.S.M., which appointment he held until 1929 when he retired. Recalled at the outbreak of the last war, he served as R.S.M. of 53rd Training Regiment from 1939-43. He was awarded the M.C. in 1918 while serving with the 20th Hussars.
Sold with copied research and two small photographs of Rabjohn.
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