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Auction: 9004 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 918

The Great War 1918 ´Hindenburg Line´ M.C. Awarded to Second Lieutenant G. Trigg, East Yorkshire Regiment, Attached King´s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, for the Capture of Havrincourt, 12.9.1918; For this Action Sergeant L. Calvert, of Trigg´s Battalion, was Awarded the Victoria Cross Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse engraved ´Awarded to 2nd Lieut. G. Trigg. For Conspicuous Bravery at Havrincourt Sept. 12th to 14th 1918´, extremely fine, in Royal Mint, case of issue Estimate £ 400-450 M.C. London Gazette 1.2.1919 2nd Lt. George Trigg, E. York. R. Spec. Res., attd 5th Bn., York. L.I., T.F. ´´During the period 12th to 14th September 1918, this officer displayed great dash and courage in the taking of Havrincourt, and also in dealing with a determined enemy counter attack. Though heavily pressed, his platoon never gave an inch of ground, and he continually put himself in exposed positions to exercise better control of his men.´´ Second Lieutenant G. Trigg, M.C., commissioned Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 29.5.1918; attached 5th battalion, King´´s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Battle of Havrincourt On the 12th September, the Third Army launched an attack on the enemy positions at Havrincourt, the aim being to gain possession of the outlying defences of the Hindenburg Line prior to the general Allied attack. The brigades of the 62nd Division had previously taken Havrincourt on the 20th November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai, and Major-General Sir R.D. Whigham gave the orders: ´´the 62nd Division will recapture Havrincourt village.´´ The 187th Brigade, on the left of the front, sent forward the 5th Battalion, King´´s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and the 2/4th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Some casualties were suffered during the advance eastwards, which was checked for a time by enfilade fire from a strongpoint a quarter of a mile south of Havrincourt, which had to be taken. Sergeant Laurence Calvert, M.M., of Trigg´´s Battalion, the 5th K.O.Y.L.I.s, rushed forward alone against an enemy machine gun team, bayoneting three and shooting four of the enemy. His valour and determination in single-handedly capturing two enemy machine-guns and killing the crews inspired all ranks, and the Battalion pushed on, taking Havrincourt by 7:30am. For his gallantry Sergeant Calvert was awarded the Victoria Cross. At 6:30pm the enemy made a determined effort to recapture Havrincourt, with a fresh division accompanied by low-flying aeroplanes, after a violent bombardment. The onslaught struck mainly Trigg´´s Battalion, the 5th K.O.Y.L.I., but was repulsed by rifle and machine gun fire, and finally broken by heavy artillery fire.

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£550