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Auction: 11011 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 114

A Great War Casualty Group of Three to Company Sergeant Major F.H. Powell, [M.M.], Royal Fusiliers, Killed in Action at the Battle of Poelcapelle, 9.10.1917, During which Sergeant Molyneux, of the Same Battalion, was Awarded the Victoria Cross 1914-15 Star (607 Sjt. F. Powell. R.Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (SR-607 W.O. Cl.2. F.H. Powell. R.Fus.), extremely fine, with the recipient´s Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Frederick Henry Powell) (3) Estimate £ 250-300 M.M. London Gazette 9.7.1917 607 Sjt. F.H. Powell, R.Fus. SR-607 Company Sergeant Major Frederick Henry Powell, M.M., born Westminster, February 1878; lived in Harrow, Middlesex; enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, September 1914; served during the Great War at Gallipoli from 25.9.1915 (wounded); served on the Western Front from March 1917, and awarded the Military Medal; killed in action at the Battle of Poelcapelle, 9.10.1917, during the 2nd Battalion´s advance on Conde House- ´...a filthy advance; it was costly; it was unsatisfactory. The Battalion had advanced according to plan, but apparently no one else had. There was no obvious landmark to stake out the day´s work and round off their ordeal´ (The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War by H.C. O´Neill refers); and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. V.C. London Gazette 26.11.1917 No. 1817 Sjt. John Molyneux, R. Fus. (St. Helens) ´For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During an attack, which was held up by machine-gun fire which caused many casualties, Sergeant Molyneux instantly organised a bombing party to clear the trench in front of a house. Many enemy were killed and a machine-gun captured. Having cleared this obstacle, he immediately jumped out of the trench and called for someone to follow him, and rushed for the house. By the time the men arrived he was in the thick of a hand-to-hand fight; this only lasted a short time, and the enemy surrendered, and, in addition to the dead and wounded, between 20 and 30 prisoners were taken. Apart from the personal bravery of this non-commissioned officer, his initiative and dash prevented a slight check from becoming a serious block in the advance, and undoubtedly prevented many casualties.´

Sold for
£320