Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. T. Gresswell, 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War near Wancourt during the German Spring Offensive on 28 March 1918

British War and Victory Medals (44095 Pte. J. T. Gresswell. North’d Fus.) extremely fine (2) £100-£140

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

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John Thomas Gresswell was born on 14 February 1888 at Rothley, Leicestershire. A farmer by occupation, he attested for the Northumberland Fusiliers on 2 February 1916 and served with the 20th (Service) Battalion on the Western Front from 16 September 1916. Repatriated sick on 14 February 1917, he arrived at Northumberland War Hospital two days later and, once recovered, reported back to Alnwick Depot 24 March 1917. He sailed again to France on 15 August 1917 and was posted to the 1st Battalion of his regiment at Fremicourt.

In a semi-diarised account of his war service (included with the lot), Gresswell describes this his second period of service on the Western Front and his subsequent captivity following his capture by the Germans at Henin on 28 March 1918. Example entries include:
‘Went up to Ypres for our offensive and over the top 7 days on 26 September 1917’
‘Holding the line at Vaulx for a time [Oct 1917]’
‘At Cambria push Ecourt , 20 Nov 1917, over the top, hit in eye same night and went down the line to Ashly...left for Rouen General Hospital 3 days later’
‘Joined battalion at Murcatelle and marched into the trenches next night [Feb 1918]. Cuckoo Reserve’
‘In the attack on 21 March front line’
‘At Wancourt on 28 March. Jerry’s offensive at Henin and Wancourt and captured at 8 o’clock.’
‘Marched all day to a cafe at Estrees, no food that day.’

A detailed account of the hardships of his captivity - e.g. being shelled while on working parties and being fed on horse flesh - is then concluded by the final entry on 26 November 1918: ‘Crossed for Blightly, arrived at Dover 2.30.’

Sold together with the following items and documents: Recipients ‘Soldier’s Pay Book for use on active service’; a booklet entitled, ‘What a British Soldier wants to say in French and how to pronounce it.’; Buckingham Palace letter from H.M. King George V to ex-Prisoners of War with a small union jack pinned to top left corner; the recipient’s 5 page clearly legible hand-written account of his war service and time as a prisoner of war.