The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 131
Three: Private F. Rideout, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, who was killed in action during the Battle of La Bassée on 13 October 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (5967 [sic] Pte. F. Rideout. Dorset: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5987 Pte. F. Rideout. Dorset. R.) good very fine (3)
£200-£240
Frederick Rideout was born in 1879 at Fontmell Magna, Dorset and attested for the Dorsetshire Regiment at Shaftesbury, Dorset in June 1899, with Regimental number 5987. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 August 1914 and, following his battalion’s participation in the fighting at Mons (and the Retreat), the Marne and the Aisne, he was killed in action on 13 October 1914 during the Battle of La Bassée. On this date his battalion had been heavily engaged in fighting along the La Bassée Canal, advancing from positions along the Pont Fixe-La Plantin road and engaging the enemy in front of Givenchy. Over 400 officers and men were reported killed, wounded or missing in the fighting with the bodies of some 130 of the latter later being found by a burial party.
Ray Westlake in British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 summarises a few incidents described in the regimental history that occurred during the fighting on 13 October 1914: ‘A number of Germans came forward from Givenchy carrying lances and were at first taken to be French cavalry. Another group, about a battalion, advanced with hands up as if to surrender. The battalion ceased fire in order to allow the men to come in, but upon reaching the Dorsetshire line, the Germans rushed their positions and opened fire. The history also notes how Lieutenant-Colonel Bols fought alongside of Lieutenant Pitt, the officers taking up rifles from the dead and firing into the oncoming enemy. The Colonel was wounded and subsequently taken prisoner. However, having been told to lie on a stretcher and wait to be attended by a doctor, he managed to escape back to his battalion at Pont Fixe.’
Private Rideout was the son of Henry and Mary Rideout of Fontmell Magna and, having no known grave, is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
132
Three: Private H. J. Lucas, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, a Boer War veteran who was killed in action near Violaines during the Battle of La Bassée on 22 October 1914
1914 Star, with copy clasp (5816 Pte. H. J. Lucas. Dorset: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5816 Pte. H. J. Lucas. Dorset. R.) good very fine (3)
£200-£240
Harry John Lucas was born in Ludwell, Dorset in 1880 and attested for the Dorsetshire Regiment at Dorchester, Dorset in 1899. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War and was awarded the Queen’s Medal with 3 clasps and the King’s Medal with 2 clasps. Having transferred to the 1st Battalion at the end of the campaign, he was back with the 2nd Battalion at Poona, India by the time of the 1911 Census.
After the outbreak of the Great War, he served with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 16 August 1914 and, following his battalion’s participation in the fighting at Mons (and the Retreat), the Marne and the Aisne, he was recorded missing presumed dead on 22 October 1914 during the Battle of La Bassée. On this day the ‘enemy broke through the 1st Cheshire’s line at Violaines (22nd) and Cheshires fell back to a new line being dug by company of 1st Dorsetshire - Regimental History records - “Our composite company, who were digging in rear, could do nothing; as the remains of the Cheshires started falling back on them.” Withdrew to la Quinque Rue then at 8pm to Festubert. Casualties - 7 killed, 24 wounded, 103 missing.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers). He has no known grave, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.
133
Three: Private H. Robinson, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment), who was killed in the action at Rouge Maison during the Battle of the Aisne on 20 September 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (7799 Pte. H. Robinson. 2/S. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7799 Pte. H. Robinson. S. Lan. R.); Memorial Plaque (Harold Robinson) drill holes in plaque at 9 and 3 o’clock otherwise extremely fine (4)
£240-£280
Harold Robinson was born in 1886 at Leamington, Warwickshire and attested for the South Lancashire Regiment at Coventry in 1904. He served with D Company of the 2nd Battalion during the Great War from 14 August 1914.
The Battalion took up a defensive position on a low ridge just south of Mons between Ciply and Frameries on 23 August and, having been attacked at 5am the next day by the advancing German forces, “C” and “D” Companies on the left in Frameries were enfiladed by machine guns situated along the railway line and compelled to retire after suffering great loss.
Following the retreat from Mons, the battalion began its advance to the Aisne on 6 September, crossed the river east of Vailly on 14 September and took up Brigade Reserve positions. On 19 September, two companies were sent up to reinforce the firing line further north at Rouge Maison where the following day an attack in force by the enemy required the rest of the battalion to move up to strengthen the line. Eight officers and 141 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing with Private Robinson among those killed.
He was the son of Mrs. Annie Elizabeth Robinson, of 1 Chesham Terrace, Chesham St., Leamington Spa and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
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