The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 97
Three: Private A. D. Pettengall, 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action at the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914
1914 Star (2024 Pte. A. D. Pettengall. 2/Lan. Fus.) with torn OHMS outer envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs C. Pettengall, 45 Benwell Rd. Drayton Park, Holloway, London’; British War and Victory Medals (2024 Pte. A. D. Pettingall [sic]. Lan. Fus.) with flattened named lid of card box of issue and torn OHMS outer envelope, similarly addressed; Memorial Plaque (Albert Daniel Pettengall) in card envelope, extremely fine (4)
£280-£320
Albert Daniel Pettengall was born in 1892 in Marylebone, London and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers at Bury, Lancashire in February 1910. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he entrained with ‘A’ Company of the 2nd Battalion for Southampton on 21 August and embarked on the S.S. Saturnia, arriving at Boulogne, France on 23 August 1914 as part of the 12th Brigade in General Snow’s 4th Division. The following day the battalion travelled by train to Bertry then marched to Ligny. Here on 25 August they were ordered to advanced to Viesly but later withdrew during the night to positions just north-west of Ligny before coming under the command of II Corps just as General Smith-Dorrien decided to make his stand in the rolling country around Le Caudry, to the west of Le Cateau, declaring, ‘Very well, gentlemen, we will fight, and I will ask General Snow to act under me as well.’ Smith-Dorrien’s decision to fight this important delaying rearguard action may well have saved the British from destruction by the massive German onslaught during the general Allied retreat following sustained German successes at the four Battles of the Frontiers.
The location, a long ridge running west-east with Le Cateau at its eastern end, was far from ideal. The ground was soft, so easy for the troops to dig in, but it lacked cover, was dominated by a German-held ridge to the north and, worst of all, both flanks were open. The west, held by 4th Division, was absolutely vulnerable to flanking movements designed to encircle II Corps. Snow now set up his Division HQ at the village of Haucourt with 12th Brigade furthest forward on the left near Esnes and Longsart and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers on a line of high ground near Longsart Farm between Haucourt and Wambaix. Coming under attack during the early morning of 26 August, they suffered heavy casualties but, managing to rally, held the extreme left of the British line until the B.E.F. was able to retreat, only later falling back to positions on a ridge south-west of Haucourt.
Six officers of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers were recorded killed at Le Cateau but Major-General J. C. Latter, C.B.E., M.C., in the War Diary of the Lancashire Fusiliers was uncertain of the number of other ranks killed. Some 3 officers and 86 other ranks had been wounded and 6 officers and 402 other ranks were listed as missing. Private Pettengall was later confirmed among the dead.
He was the son of John and Charlotte Pettengall of 45 Benwell Road, Drayton Park, Holloway, London and having no know grave, is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
Sold together with the following items of ephemera: the recipient’s ‘Soldiers’ Small Book’; an envelope, post dated 13 Sep 13 addressed to ‘Pte A. Pettengall, No. 2024. D Company, 2nd Lanc. Fusiliers, Military Hospital, Dover’; Record Office letters of transmission for 1914 Star, Victory Medal and 1914 Clasp; the recipient’s parent’s marriage certificate; and a poignant letter written by the recipient to his mother on 21 August 1914, five days before his death:
‘Dear Mother, I write these few lines to let you know I am going to embark for the front probably tonight. We shall probably be going over the water tonight. You must not upset yourselves over me but keep up the best spirits as it is a thing that cannot be helped and I only hope that I shall come back safe to you. I will write whenever it is possible for me to do to you so as to let you know how I am getting on. This is to give you no anxiety. When you write to me put the address I have written on top of the letter then it will find me wherever I am. Give my best love to Dad and Jacky also my dear little sister whose photo I am taking with me and I hope I shall come back to you for good.
From your loving son, Albert. xx
P.S. Good bye and God Bless you all. Forgive me for all my past wrongs so I can go happy and easy at mind. From Albert. Write soon for I do not know when I shall get your letter and keep up best of spirits all of you. Good bye for the present.’
98
Three: Private J. Street, 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, a Boer War veteran who was killed in action at the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (6494 Pte. J. Street. 2/Lan: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (6494 Pte. J. Street. Lan. Fus.) very fine (3)
£200-£240
James Street was born at Heaton Norris, Lancashire and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers at Bury, Lancashire in 1898. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War in South Africa (Q.S.A. with 5 clasps and K.S.A. with 2 clasps).
Following the outbreak of the Great War, Street entrained with the 2nd Battalion for Southampton on 21 August 1914 and embarked on the S.S. Saturnia, arriving at Boulogne, France on 23 August 1914 as part of the 12th Brigade in General Snow’s 4th Division. The following day the battalion travelled by train to Bertry then marched to Ligny. Here on 25 August they were ordered to advanced to Viesly but later withdrew during the night to positions just north-west of Ligny before coming under the command of II Corps just as General Smith-Dorrien decided to make his stand in the rolling country around Le Caudry, to the west of Le Cateau, declaring, ‘Very well, gentlemen, we will fight, and I will ask General Snow to act under me as well.’ Smith-Dorrien’s decision to fight this important delaying rearguard action may well have saved the British from destruction by the massive German onslaught during the general Allied retreat following sustained German successes at the four Battles of the Frontiers.
The location, a long ridge running west-east with Le Cateau at its eastern end, was far from ideal. The ground was soft, so easy for the troops to dig in, but it lacked cover, was dominated by a German-held ridge to the north and, worst of all, both flanks were open. The west, held by 4th Division, was absolutely vulnerable to flanking movements designed to encircle II Corps. Snow now set up his Division HQ at the village of Haucourt with 12th Brigade furthest forward on the left near Esnes and Longsart and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers on a line of high ground near Longsart Farm between Haucourt and Wambaix. Coming under attack during the early morning of 26 August, they suffered heavy casualties but, managing to rally, held the extreme left of the British line until the B.E.F. was able to retreat, only later falling back to positions on a ridge south-west of Haucourt.
Six officers of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers were recorded killed at Le Cateau but Major-General J. C. Latter, C.B.E., M.C., in the War Diary of the Lancashire Fusiliers was uncertain of the number of other ranks killed. Some 3 officers and 86 other ranks had been wounded and 6 officers and 402 other ranks were listed as missing.
Private Street was confirmed among those killed in action. He was the son of James and Alice Street, of 154, Stockport Rd., Cheadle, Cheshire and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
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
