Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private T. Clark, 10th Hussars, who was killed in action in March 1918

1914-15 Star (14496 Pte., 10th Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (14496 Pte., 10-Hrs.), good very fine (3) £180-220

Thomas Clark enlisted in the 10th Hussars in London and was embarked for France in May 1915, where he was killed in action in a on 23 March 1918, almost certainly in a charge made by the 6th Cavalry Brigade at Collezy. Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. D. C. Whitmore’s history, The 10th P.W.O. Royal Hussars and The Essex Yeomanry during the European War 1914-1918, takes up the story:

‘The mounted party, under Major E. Watkin Williams [comprising Troops from the 3rd Dragoon Guards, 10th Royal Hussars and 1st Royal Dragoons], marched from Pontoise to Berlancourt on March 23rd and the following morning “stood to” at 4 a.m. At midday they moved to Collezy and at about 2 p.m. orders were received for them to make a mounted attack on the enemy holding two woods and a hill near Collezy. Major Williams’ detachment was little more than the strength of a Squadron and they came under heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of Golancourt ... The ground was heavy and all under machine-gun fire. The Cavalry charged into the enemy, who fled on hearing the cheering men, and many surrendered. The 10th Royal Hussars rode straight through the enemy’s lines, whilst the Royals followed and captured many small parties, who in their panic had run together into groups. The “Rally” was sounded and the Squadrons returned to the Berlancourt-Villeselve road and the wounded were collected. 94 prisoners were brought in by the 10th Royal Hussars and the 1st Royal Dragoons. To this should be added 12 brought in by the 3rd Dragoon Guards. 3 machine-guns were also captured. About 100 Germans were killed at the point of the sword.

The mounted detachment suffered heavy casualties, including Lieutenant the Hon. W. H. Cubitt (died of wounds), who was in command of the Royal detachment, the total losses being 78 out of 150; but the attack gave a wonderful moral effect on the Infantry, who had suffered so severely during the retreat, and the price the detachment paid was well rewarded.’

Clark, a native of Stoke Newington, London, was buried in the Noyon New British Cemetery; sold with a file of research and modern-day photograph of the recipient’s gravestone; sold with brief research.