The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 167
Three: Second Lieutenant G. T. H. Morse, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action near La Bassée on 13 October 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut: G. T. H. Morse. Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (
2.Lieut. G. T. H. Morse.) good very fine (3)
£600-£800
Gordon Thomas Harcourt Morse was born in 1893 at Mian Meer, Punjab, India, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. Ricketts Morse and Kathleen Morse (later of Chargrove House, Cheltenham) and was educated at Cheltenham College - where he rose to be a prefect - and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he was an Honorary King’s Cadet.
Gazetted Second Lieutenant into the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 8 August 1914, he served with them in France during the Great War from 12 September 1914 and was killed in action in his battalion’s attack on Croix Barbée near La Bassée on 13 August 1914. The war diary records that on this date the enemy were pushed through Croix Barbée and the Battalion entrenched for the night in the rear of the village. His Colonel wrote that he was killed instantaneously being shot while leading his platoon in an attack, and that ‘during the short time he was with the regiment he had become popular with both officers and men.’
Morse was 1 of 4 officers to be killed or mortally wounded in the attack. 2 officers were wounded and 45 other ranks were either killed or wounded. After his death his former college housemaster said of him: ‘He was industrious at work, fearless at games, loyal to his friends, and esteemed by all.’
Initially buried at Rouge Croix, he now lies in Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Lacouture, France.
168
The 1914 Star awarded to Private J. H. Mullins, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), later Machine Gun Corps, whose medal entitlement was revoked following his conviction for cowardice in the face of enemy in 1916, but later reinstated
1914 Star (S-6361 Pte. J. H. Mullins. Midd’x R.) good very fine £70-£90
John Henry Mullins attested for the Middlesex Regiment in 1900 and served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 November 1914. He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.
On 23 May 1916 Private Mullins was convicted of cowardice in the face of the enemy and sentenced to 5 years penal servitude. This is stated on the 1914 Star Medal Roll (with the words ‘no medal’) and on his Medal Index Card (later scored out). The 1914 Star Medal Roll contains a resubmitted entry, however, under the name James Henry Mullins (all other details correct), dated 1 April 1921, confirming entitlement. His medal index card notes the change of Christian name on 7 April 1921.
He was discharged Class Z on 30 September 1919.
169
Family group:
Pair: Private E. Pearce, 21st Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action on the Western Front, at 16 years of age, on 24 July 1916 British War and Victory Medals (G-15516 Pte. E. Pearce. Midd’x R.); Memorial Plaque (Edward Pearce) nearly extremely fine
Memorial Plaque (Alfred James Pearce) nearly extremely fine (4) £160-£200
Edward Pearce was born in 1900 at Islington, London and attested for the Middlesex Regiment at Holloway, Middlesex. He served with the 21st (Service) Battalion (Islington) during the Great War and was killed in action on the Western Front on 24 July 1916 aged 16 years. The son of Matthew Charles and Rosa Elizabeth Pearce of 21 Magdala Road, Highgate, London, he is buried in Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, France.
Alfred James Pearce, brother of the above, was born in 1893 at Islington, London and enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Wood Green, North London. He served during the Great War as a Driver with the 37th Divisional Ammunition Column, No. 2 Section, Royal Field Artillery and died at Tadworth on 15 May 1915. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.
170
Three: Rifleman F. W. Andrews, 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action on the Aisne on 16 September 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (11174 Pte. F. W. Andrews. 1/K.R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals (11174 Pte. F. W. Andrews K. R. Rif. C.) good very fine (3)
£200-£240
Frederick William Andrews was born in 1895 at New Cross, Surrey and was an outdoor porter by occupation prior to attesting for the King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Winchester on 12 August 1913. He served with the 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914 and was killed in action on 16 September 1914 at the First Battle of the Aisne, following his battalion’s earlier participation, also with the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division, at the Battle of Mons, the subsequent retreat, and the operations on the Marne. He was the son of Arthur and Annie Andrews of 251 New Cross Road, Surrey and is buried at Vailly British Cemetery, France.
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