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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 280

The Great War 1918 French Theatre ´Attack on Villers-au-Flos´ Subaltern´s D.S.O. Group of Eight to Lieutenant, Later Major R.H. Welch, Royal Lancashire Regiment, Attached Manchester Regiment and Light Trench Mortar Battery, Who With the Bold and Skilful Use of His Special Weapon Captured Five Enemy Machine-Guns and Took 25 Prisoners a) Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, with Garrard, London, case of issue b) 1914-15 Star (Lieut. R.H. Welch. R. Lanc. R.) c) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (Lieut. R.H. Welch.) d) General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., one clasp, Palestine (Major R.H. Welch. King´s Own.) e) Defence and War Medals f) Coronation 1937, nearly extremely fine, mounted as worn, and housed in a Spink and Son, London, fitted case; with the related miniature awards; cap badge; shoulder badges; and the following documentation &c.: - The recipient´s Service Book - Temporary Commission appointing Robert Hall Welch, as Second Lieutenant, Land Forces, dated 11.9.1914 - Bestowal Document for the Distinguished Service Order, dated 11.1.1919, and War Office enclosure, dated 21.5.1920, together with a copy of the Statutes of the Distinguished Service Order - Copies of the Recommendation and Report concerning his D.S.O. - Telegram to the recipient from the Lord Chamberlain requiring his attendance at Buckingham Palace, dated 10.3.1919 - Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, dated 8.11.1918 - Documentation regarding the recipient´s promotion to Major, dated 9.6.1926 - Army Medal Office Enclosure for the recipient´s General Service Medal with Palestine clasp, dated 3.12.1953 - Bestowal Document for the Coronation Medal 1937 - Letter to the recipient from Cox and Co., London, the recipient´s agents, dated 13.9.1919 - Copy of The Times, dated 13.1.1919, reporting the award of the recipient´s D.S.O. - Copy of a cutting from The Northern Daily Telegraph, dated 14.10.1931, reporting the recipient´s wedding - Copy of a photograph from The Daily Telegraph, dated 23.12.1937, showing the recipient officiating at a Palestine Military Court - Copy of The Lion and the Dragon, dated Autumn 1975, featuring the recipient´s obituary - Two portrait Photographs of the recipient. Documentation Relating to Captain A.B.S. Welch, Lancashire Volunteer Regiment - Temporary Commission appointing Alfred Bassett Starbuck Welch, as Captain, Volunteer Force, dated 12.12.1916, together with a facsimile copy, and West Lancashire Association enclosure - Lancashire Volunteer Brigade Document appointing the recipient as Company Commander in the Lancashire Volunteer Brigade, dated 29.3.1916 - Volunteer Officers Instructional Classes certificate, dated 14-15.3.1917 - Letters from the War Office granting the recipient the Honorary rank of Captain, dated 12.1.1920 - Letter of thanks from the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, dated 17.10.1919, together with a facsimile copy - Four Portrait Photographs (lot) Estimate £ 1,800-2,200 D.S.O. London Gazette 11.1.1919 Lt. Robert Hall Welch, R. Lanc. R., attd. 127th L.T.M. By. ´´For conspicuous gallantry, devotion and fine leadership in command of two Stokes gun detachments. Under heavy shell and machine-gun fire he directed and controlled his guns, obtaining many direct hits and causing heavy enemy casualties, and finally leading his men forward he captured several machine guns. After all his ammunition had been expended he rallied the men and, dumping the guns, led them forward with the battalions on either flank and helped to drive back the enemy until the objectives were reached and consolidated.´´ The recommendation from Major General A. Solly-Flood, C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding 42nd Division, states: ´´For conspicuous gallantry, coolness, and successful leadership during the attack on Villers-au-Flos on 2.9.1918. Under heavy shell and machine-gun fire he directed and controlled the fire of one trench mortar on to first one machine-gun nest and then another obtaining direct hits and killing several of the garrisons. He then led his men forward and killed or captured the remainder. As a result of this fine leadership and control, 2 Minenwerfers and 3 machine-guns were captured by him and his men. The ammunition of both of his guns having been expended, he rallied all men and led them forward with the Battalions and helped with captured machine-guns, rifles, and bayonets to drive back the enemy.´´ The report from Brigadier-General A. Henley, Commanding 127th Infantry Brigade, dated 3.9.1918, states: ´´Your Battery has played a most gallant part in the storming of Villers-au-Flos by 127th Infantry Brigade. By the bold and skilful use of your special weapon you broke up nest after nest of German machine-guns. Not content with this, and after the exhaustion of your bombs, your men advanced with rifle and bayonet side by side with the leading battalions to the furthest objective. Your capture of five machine-guns and 25 prisoners is a splendid reward for a little unit such as yours. I offer my most sincere congratulations to Captain Sayers, the Commander of the Battery, to Lieutenant Welch who led it into action, and to all ranks who took part in the assault.´´ M.I.D. London Gazette 27.12.1918 Welch, Lt. R.H., D.S.O., attd. 127th L.T.M. By., Royal Lancashire Regiment. Major Robert Hall Welch, D.S.O. (1895-1975), the son of Captain A.B.S. Welch; Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Lancashire Regiment (King´´s Own), 11.9.1914; Temporary Lieutenant, 5.2.1915- 1.8.1916; served with the 10th Battalion, King´´s Own; granted a permanent Commission, 11.6.1915; attached 1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, and served in the Gallipoli Theatre of War, 13.5.1915-9.1.1916; attached 1/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, and served in Egypt, 15.1-18.3.1916; Egyptian Expeditionary Force, 19.3.1916-2.3.1917; Lieutenant, 14.9.1916; attached 127th Light Trench Mortar Battery, British Expeditionary Force, 29.4-11.11.1918; Mentioned in Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig´´s Despatch, 8.11.1918, and awarded the D.S.O.: according to The Lion and the Dragon, he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross for this action by his then Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel (later Sir) Henry Darlington. Captain 1.3.1924; Major, 8.11.1935; served in Palestine from 1937 and sat as a judge on one of the Palestine Military Courts, set up in 1937 to deal with terrorism; retired, 1938; Reserve of Officers during the Second World War. Captain Alfred Bassett Starbuck Welch, father of Major R.H. Welch, served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Lancashire Regiment Volunteer Force during the Great War.

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