The 1914 Star awarded to Private C. Lurie, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment), who was killed in action at Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first full day of fighting on the Western Front

1914 Star (L-8687 Pte. C. Lurie. 4/Midd’x R.) good very fine £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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Charles Lurie was born in 1885 at Shoreditch, Middlesex and attested for the Middlesex Regiment in London on 7 March 1903. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he embarked from Southampton with the 4th Battalion as part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Division, arriving in France on 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action.

On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls:

‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’

However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of War.

Private Lurie was the husband of Jane Lurie and is buried at Mons (Bergen) Communal Cemetery, Belgium.

Note: The CWGC, De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Soldiers Died in the Great War and the British Jewry Book of Honour 1914-1920 all state Laurie’s date of death to be 23 August 1914, however, the Register of Soldier’s Effects gives Lurie’s place and date of death to be Mons, 28 August 1914. It is therefore possible that Lurie was wounded at Mons on 23 August and died as a Prisoner of War five days later.