A FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WAR GALLANTRY GROUP OF EIGHT TO A C...
Estimate
£1,000 - £1,500
A FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WAR GALLANTRY GROUP OF EIGHT TO A CASUALTY FOLLOWING THE BATTLE OF NEUVE CHAPELLE. A group of eight comprising Commander of the British Empire, neck badge on military ribbon. Military Cross, unmarked, 1914-15 Star named to 2nd Lieut R.H.F. Duckworth, War Medal and Victory Medal named to Captain Duckworth, Second World War Defence and War Medals, unnamed as issued and Greek Order of the Redeemer. The seven mounted as worn. With full set of eight miniatures, mounted as worn and an additional miniature for the Military Cross. Robert Hugh Fagan Duckworth (1895-1980) Enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 16th September 1914 and is recorded entering the First World War in France on the 22nd March 1915. His time at the front was cut short by a wound from a sniper's rifle in September 1915. A trench map of the area south of Neuve Chapelle (16.9.15 Secret No.226) has been annotated by the casualty to show the exact location of the shooting. 'Rode Bicycle under fire down road' (The Rue du Bois South West of Neuve Chapelle), 'HIT (16/5/15) and 'HUN SHOT! (by me)'.
The words of Brigadier Duckworth's son tell of his injury on the 16th May 1915: In the vicinity of Neuve Chapelle on the 15th May 1915, my father, 2nd Lieutenant R.H.F. Duckworth whilst serving with the 5th Field Company Royal Engineers, 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division B.E.F., was shot by a sniper whilst he was working in no man's land. The bullet hit him in the right arm, shattering his elbow.
The treatment involved a total of 42 surgical operations since he contracted Gangrene as a complication to the wound, which was a frequent occurrence in injuries received in the mud of the trenches.
He was given an artificial elbow joint made in silver - an early triumph of medical science at the time and this joint lasted him until the end of his long life and was very little handicap to him. He was able to continue his service in the army and to take part in golf, polo ad a great number of other sporting activities.
He was placed on light duties for two years in the U.K. and when again declared fit for active service in 1917 he was sent to Egypt. From where he took part in General Allenby's Palestine Campaign which culmination in the capture of Jerusalem from the Turks. It was during this campaign that he was awarded the Military Cross, Gazetted on the 11th April, 1918, p.4411. The Unusual Greek medal, the Order of the Redeemer, Knight, was gazetted on the 19th of January 1920, p.730, one of only a suggested 137 of these that were awarded to British troops. His C.B.E. was an Honours List award was Gazetted on the 8th June 1944, page 2574.
Duckworth rose through the ranks, Captain from November 1917, eventually to the rank of Temporary Brigadier during the Second World War. Having spent time in Ceylon during the inter-war period he spent the entirety of the Second World War in India where, according to family tradition, he commanded the last Regiment of Horse.
The lot is accompanied by two photograph albums, one a well annotated album dated December 1915. These show fascinating images of recuperation with nurses, 'Hospital and Sick Leave 1915 & 1916'. A cutting in the album notes his engagement to Mary Sybil (Mollie) Alms. Other images are annotated return to service in Alexandria, third battle of Gaza, Advance on Jerusalem, Shelling of Gaza, Class photographs at Chatham, Armoured Rolls Royce, a total of over 600 photographs. A second album of some 450 images includes shots of men in uniform, armoured cars, group shots, scenes in India, big game hunting, scenes of family life and other subjects.
Consigned by a direct descendant of the recipient.
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Medals in glazed oak display case, ribbons faded. Collection in excellent condition.
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£1,000 - £1,500
A FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WAR GALLANTRY GROUP OF EIGHT TO A CASUALTY FOLLOWING THE BATTLE OF NEUVE CHAPELLE. A group of eight comprising Commander of the British Empire, neck badge on military ribbon. Military Cross, unmarked, 1914-15 Star named to 2nd Lieut R.H.F. Duckworth, War Medal and Victory Medal named to Captain Duckworth, Second World War Defence and War Medals, unnamed as issued and Greek Order of the Redeemer. The seven mounted as worn. With full set of eight miniatures, mounted as worn and an additional miniature for the Military Cross. Robert Hugh Fagan Duckworth (1895-1980) Enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 16th September 1914 and is recorded entering the First World War in France on the 22nd March 1915. His time at the front was cut short by a wound from a sniper's rifle in September 1915. A trench map of the area south of Neuve Chapelle (16.9.15 Secret No.226) has been annotated by the casualty to show the exact location of the shooting. 'Rode Bicycle under fire down road' (The Rue du Bois South West of Neuve Chapelle), 'HIT (16/5/15) and 'HUN SHOT! (by me)'.
The words of Brigadier Duckworth's son tell of his injury on the 16th May 1915: In the vicinity of Neuve Chapelle on the 15th May 1915, my father, 2nd Lieutenant R.H.F. Duckworth whilst serving with the 5th Field Company Royal Engineers, 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division B.E.F., was shot by a sniper whilst he was working in no man's land. The bullet hit him in the right arm, shattering his elbow.
The treatment involved a total of 42 surgical operations since he contracted Gangrene as a complication to the wound, which was a frequent occurrence in injuries received in the mud of the trenches.
He was given an artificial elbow joint made in silver - an early triumph of medical science at the time and this joint lasted him until the end of his long life and was very little handicap to him. He was able to continue his service in the army and to take part in golf, polo ad a great number of other sporting activities.
He was placed on light duties for two years in the U.K. and when again declared fit for active service in 1917 he was sent to Egypt. From where he took part in General Allenby's Palestine Campaign which culmination in the capture of Jerusalem from the Turks. It was during this campaign that he was awarded the Military Cross, Gazetted on the 11th April, 1918, p.4411. The Unusual Greek medal, the Order of the Redeemer, Knight, was gazetted on the 19th of January 1920, p.730, one of only a suggested 137 of these that were awarded to British troops. His C.B.E. was an Honours List award was Gazetted on the 8th June 1944, page 2574.
Duckworth rose through the ranks, Captain from November 1917, eventually to the rank of Temporary Brigadier during the Second World War. Having spent time in Ceylon during the inter-war period he spent the entirety of the Second World War in India where, according to family tradition, he commanded the last Regiment of Horse.
The lot is accompanied by two photograph albums, one a well annotated album dated December 1915. These show fascinating images of recuperation with nurses, 'Hospital and Sick Leave 1915 & 1916'. A cutting in the album notes his engagement to Mary Sybil (Mollie) Alms. Other images are annotated return to service in Alexandria, third battle of Gaza, Advance on Jerusalem, Shelling of Gaza, Class photographs at Chatham, Armoured Rolls Royce, a total of over 600 photographs. A second album of some 450 images includes shots of men in uniform, armoured cars, group shots, scenes in India, big game hunting, scenes of family life and other subjects.
Consigned by a direct descendant of the recipient.
More Information
Medals in glazed oak display case, ribbons faded. Collection in excellent condition.
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Time, Location
Auction House
