Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private C. Driver, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), who was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 26 October 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (15712 Pte. C. Driver. 4/ R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-15712 Pte. C. Driver. R. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Recipients of the 1914 Star.

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Clarence Driver was born in Paddington, London, in 1890 and served with the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 September 1914. He was killed in action on 26 October 1914 at Neuve Chapelle; he has no known grave, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France.

At Neuve Chapelle on 25 October 1914 the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers were ordered to retake lost trenches on the outskirts of Neuve Chapelle. Sir Francis Waller led “Z” Company in a charge against the enemy, and was mortally wounded. They captured the trenches and the town was cleared of Germans. “Y” Company and half of “Z” Company all under the command of Major Mallock remained in the front line while the rest went into billets. On 26 October the Germans attacked in the early hours and a fierce engagement took place in which the trenches were defended until most of the Fusiliers had been killed or wounded. The whole battalion was involved as the day wore on and some trenches were lost, but on the following day, 27 October, they were aided by French Alpine troops and almost regained the lost positions, but at a heavy cost in casualties. Major Mallock was severely wounded and the battalion was reduced to 8 officers and 350 other ranks. They were relieved on the night of 29 October and marched to Merris. They were later complimented by General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien:
‘I simply cannot find words enough to express my admiration for the way in which your regiment has behaved. All through the campaign up to now they have had the hardest work of any regiment in the brigade, and any work they have had to do they have carried out exceedingly well. In fact, I can say that there is no better regiment in the British Army than the Royal Fusiliers.’