The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 76


Three: Private D. J. Sargeant, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was killed in action during the 2nd Suffolks’ important stand at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914


1914 Star, with clasp (6610 Pte. D. Sargeant. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6610 Pte. D. Sargeant. Suff. R.) nearly very fine (3)


£300-£400


David John Sargeant was born at Great Waldingfield, Suffolk and attested for the Suffolk Regiment at Sudbury in 1903. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he landed with the 2nd Battalion at Havre on 15 August 1914. Having retreated from Mons on the night of 23 August, his battalion arrived at Le Cateau where, on the morning of 26 August, Lord Douglas Malise Graham (ADC to Divisional Commander) remarked to Major Peebles, ‘you are going to fight it out here’. Brigadier-General S. P. Rolt (Commander 14th Brigade) then informed the Battalion, ’You understand, there is to be no thought of retirement.’


Tenaciously holding on to the high ground overlooking Le Cateau from the west, the 2nd Suffolks played a crucial role during the battle in enabling the 5th Division to withdraw down the Roman Road to the south west later in the day. A substantial effort was made by the Germans to dislodge the Suffolks who were exposed to heavy gunfire from the German batteries to their front and their flanks and also infiltration by infantry around their flanks: ‘Many years later a German officer who fought with 7th Division of IV Corps recalled the stubborn resistance of 2/Suffolks and 2/KOYLI on the ridge to the south of Le Cateau - ‘I did not think it possible that flesh and blood could survive so great an onslaught. Our men attacked with the utmost determination, but again and again they were driven back by these incomparable soldiers.’ (The Mons Star by David Ascoli refers)


Suffering heavy losses, the Suffolks were provided with re-enforcement and support, with great difficulty and high casualties, by the Argylls of 19th Brigade and the Manchesters of 14th Brigade. The Germans massed for a final attack at 2.30pm, and called upon the Suffolks to surrender. Attacks continued from the front and right flanks, but the battalion was only finally overrun when the Germans worked their way round to the rear of the Suffolks’ positions.


The survivors got away to Bohain, and mustered for a roll call in St Quentin which only showed 2 Officers and 111 Other Ranks left. The majority of the losses were men who were wounded and taken prisoner; it is estimated that more than 500 men from the battalion became prisoners of war in this action.


Private Sargeant was confirmed killed in action at Le Cateau on 26 October 1914. He was the son of David and Alice Sargeant of The Foule, Blackheath, Colchester and the husband of the late Alice Maud Sargeant. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.


77


Family Group:


Three: Private T. W. Mason, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was killed in action at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914 1914 Star (7158 Pte. T. W. Mason. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7158 Pte. T. W. Mason. Suff. R.) good very fine


Three: Private J. W. Mason, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was captured at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914


1914 Star (6823 Pte. J. W. Mason. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6823 Pte. J. W. Mason. Suff. R.) good very fine (6)


£400-£500


Thomas William Mason was born in 1888 at Thetford, Cambridgeshire and attested for the Suffolk Regiment at Ely in 1905. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Havre on 15 August 1914. Having retreated from Mons on the night of 23 August, his battalion arrived at Le Cateau where, on the morning of 26 August, Lord Douglas Malise Graham (ADC to Divisional Commander) remarked to Major Peebles, ‘you are going to fight it out here’. Brigadier-General S. P. Rolt (Commander 14th Brigade) then informed the Battalion, ’You understand, there is to be no thought of retirement.’


Tenaciously holding on to the high ground overlooking Le Cateau from the west, the 2nd Suffolks played a crucial role during the battle in enabling the 5th Division to withdraw down the Roman Road to the south west later in the day. A substantial effort was made by the Germans to dislodge the Suffolks who were exposed to heavy gunfire from the German batteries to their front and their flanks and also infiltration by infantry around their flanks: ‘Many years later a German officer who fought with 7th Division of IV Corps recalled the stubborn resistance of 2/Suffolks and 2/KOYLI on the ridge to the south of Le Cateau - ‘I did not think it possible that flesh and blood could survive so great an onslaught. Our men attacked with the utmost determination, but again and again they were driven back by these incomparable soldiers.’ (The Mons Star by David Ascoli refers)


Suffering heavy losses, the Suffolks were provided with re-enforcement and support, with great difficulty and high casualties, by the Argylls of 19th Brigade and the Manchesters of 14th Brigade. The Germans massed for a final attack at 2.30pm, and called upon the Suffolks to surrender. Attacks continued from the front and right flanks, but the battalion was only finally overrun when the Germans worked their way round to the rear of the Suffolks’ positions.


The survivors got away to Bohain, and mustered for a roll call in St Quentin which only showed 2 Officers and 111 Other Ranks left. The majority of the losses were men who were wounded and taken prisoner; it is estimated that more than 500 men from the battalion became prisoners of war in this action.


Private Mason was initially reported missing after the battle and there was a report of him being in Cambrai Hospital in January 1915 but he was never traced as a Prisoner of War and was later officially confirmed as being killed in action on 26 August 1914. He was the son of John and Eliza Mason, of Little Thetford, Ely, Cambridgeshire and having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte- sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.


James W. Mason, older brother of the above, was born in 1885 at Thetford, Cambridgeshire and attested for the Suffolk Regiment in 1904. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Havre on 15 August 1914, and was captured at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914. He was held prisoner of war at Doberitz.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208