Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private W. Cramp, 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who was killed in action at the capture of Méteren during the Battle of Armentières on 13 October 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (157 Pte. W. Cramp. R. War: R.); British War and Victory Medals (157 Pte. W. Cramp. R. War. R.); Memorial Plaque (William Cramp) in card envelope, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280

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

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William Cramp was born in 1885 in Foleshill, Warwickshire and attested for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Warwick on 2 August 1904. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1914 and was killed in action on 13 October at the capture of Méteren during the opening of the Battle of Armentières.

On this date the 1st Warwickshires gained the outskirts of Méteren by 1pm but then being held up, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies are noted by the War Diary as moving forward later, taking several trenches, but with heavy loss. The Battalion withdrew in the evening to reserve trenches having suffered Major Christie killed, Lieutenant Gilliat mortally wounded, 3 officers wounded and 45 other ranks killed, 85 wounded. Notable among the wounded officers was Lieutenant (later Field Marshal) B. L. Montgomery.

William Cramp was the son of William and Mary Cramp and husband of Lucy Wheatley (formerly Cramp) of Little Boyton, Foleshill, Coventry. He is buried in Méteren Military Cemetery, France.