The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 174
Three: Major T. Roche, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), a Boer War veteran who went out to France with the original British Expeditionary Force on 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at Hooge during the First Battle of Ypres on 17 November 1914
1914 Star (Major T. Roche. Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. Roche.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500 M.I.D. London Gazettes 10 September 1901; 17 February 1915
Thomas Roche was born in 1874 at Annakissa House, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, the son of Thomas Roche J.P., and was educated at Eastman’s Academy, Southsea and Fawcett’s School, Cork. He joined the Wiltshire Regiment from the Militia in 1895, becoming Lieutenant in November 1896 and Captain in 1900. After five years in India, he proceeded to South Africa in September 1900 and served in the Boer War, being present at operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen’s medal with four clasps.
Returning to India, Roche was Adjutant of his battalion, 1902-06, and then, after passing through the Staff College, was Brigade-Major from 1909 to 1913, obtaining his majority in April of the latter year, having earlier been awarded the Delhi Durbar 1911 medal.
Following the outbreak of the Great War, Roche served with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. The 1st Wiltshire was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, they began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé - Roche was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 October 1914.
Roche was killed in action by a shell near Hooge on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows: ‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. In fantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieeut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’
Temporary-Lieutenant Colonel Roche was initially buried 200 yards north-east of the Chateau south of the Menin-Ypres Road near Hooge. He was forty years old when he was killed and was posthumously Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915. He now lies buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, Belgium.
175
Three: Private P. G. Smith, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), who was killed in action at Hooge, during the First Battle of Ypres, on 17 November 1914
1914 Star (9061 Pte. P. G. Smith. 1/Wilts: R.) in named card box of issue with Record Office transmission slip and outer OHMS envelope addressed to, ‘Mrs T. Smith, Telfont Magna, Nr Salisbury, Wilts.’; British War and Victory Medals (9061 Pte. P. G. Smith. Wilts. R.) in named card boxes of issue with Record Office transmission slip and outer OHMS envelope, similarly addressed; together with brass ‘Bed Plate’ inscribed, ‘P. G. Smith. 9051. Wiltshire. Regt.’ and a portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, extremely fine (3)
£200-£240
Percy Gordon Smith was born in Teffont Magna, Wiltshire and having attested for the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1913, he served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. His battalion was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and also when they suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, the 1st Wiltshires began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé.
Private Smith was killed in action on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows:
‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. In fantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieeut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’
Private P. G. Smith was the son of Thomas and Margaret Smith, of Teffont Magna, Salisbury and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
176
Five: Private W. F. Oram, 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment) (Territorial Force), later Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery
British War and Victory Medals (200516 Pte. W. F. Oram. Wilts. R.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (200516 Pte. W. F. Oram. Wilts. R.); Jubilee 1935 (1414829 W. F. Oram. R.A.) contemporarily engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army (1414829 Gnr. W. F. Oram. R.A.) mounted as worn, small edge bruise to last, nearly very fine and better (5)
£200-£240 William Frank Oram was born in 1895 in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
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