The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 16


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.


17


Three: Private T. F. McKerron, 15th (The King’s) Hussars, who was killed in action near West Hoek during the Battle of Nonneboschen, Ypres, on 11 November 1914


1914 Star, with clasp (5761 Pte. T. F. McKerron. 15/Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (5761 Pte. T. F. McKerron 15- Hrs.) edge nicks to BWM, good very fine (3)


£200-£240


Thomas Fraser McKerron was born at St. Nicholas, Aberdeen and attested there for the 15th Hussars. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 August 1914 and was killed in action near West Hoek, outside Ypres, on 11 November 1914. On this date all three squadrons of the 15th Hussars were heavily engaged in defending the allied lines against a determined attack by the German Prussian Guard.


Private McKerron was almost certainly serving with B Squadron which engaged the Prussian Guard at Nonneboschen Wood (near West Hoek) on 11 November 1914 before bivouacking at night near Hooge (’A’ squadron was at Chateau Herentage and ‘C’ Squadron at Veldhoek on this date): ‘To turn now to the adventures of B Squadron on 11th November. Early in the morning the reports arrived that all along the front there was very heavy shelling. Later on information was received from the French on the left that an attack was developing about Langemark, and the patrols reported that heavy attacks had developed against both the 1st and 3rd Division. At about 9.17 a.m. therefore the few remaining reserves of the 2nd Division moved forward to about Polygon and Nonne Boschen Woods; at the same time B Squadron was sent to Westhoek, with orders to defend that place to the last. By the time that the squadron arrived at this position the enemy had already overrun our line, and was approaching Westhoek. As a result of this attack, two British batteries—the 9th and 16th—were left in the open. The battery commanders, with great gallantry, collected the stragglers who were passing through the guns, and dismounting the drivers, managed somehow to beat off the enemy, and by hard fighting were enabled to retire out of action, without the loss of a single gun. As they fell back they unlimbered at Westhoek on the line already occupied by B Squadron, and once again came into action. B Squadron thereupon supplied an escort to the guns, with orders to protect them at all costs. The fire from these two batteries in their new positions proved most effective, for they fired at point-blank range against the advancing enemy.


Meanwhile the rest of the squadron extended dismounted through Nonne Boschen Wood, where the men lay down in the open, prepared to put up as good a fight as possible. The Germans did not, however, press through this wood, and the 2nd Division was enabled to collect units for a counter-attack. At 3.30 p.m. the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry began an advance through Nonne Boschen Wood. In spite of the heavy fire B Squadron had kept a few mounted patrols with the front line, and as soon as the counterattack developed, these advanced on either flank, and did not retire until the infantry commenced to dig themselves in. Throughout the whole of the battle B Squadron was largely responsible for keeping up the communications of the 2nd Division and in the evening the commander personally congratulated the men on the way they had kept him informed of the situation in the front line. After dark the majority of the squadron was withdrawn to Hooge.’ (The History of the 15th King’s Hussars 1914-1922 by Lord Carnock M.C.)


Private McKerron was the son of James and Mary McKerron and having no known grave, is commemorated on the Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery and Extension, Belgium.


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