Special Collections
Create new listThe 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot was raised in 1741 and saw extensive service in North America during the latter half of the 18th century and early 19th century, including in the Caribbean, and subsequently took part in the Crimean War. It amalgamated with the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot in 1881 to become the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, and saw further service in the Egyptian campaign and in South Africa during the Boer War, as well as extensive service in both the Great War and the Second World War. Following the Second World War the Regiment amalgamated successively with the Somerset Light Infantry to form the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry in 1959; with the Durham Light Infantry, the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry to form the Light Infantry in 1968; and then with the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire Light Infantry, and the Royal Green Jackets to form The Rifles in 2007.
A Great War 1918 ‘German Spring Offensive’ M.C. group of six awarded to Major J. Trehane, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, who was wounded in action on the Western Front
Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. Trehane.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., Territorial, reverse officially dated 1953, with additional long service bar dated 1953, and Royal Mint case of issue, mounted as worn, very fine (6) £800-£1,000
This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 46th Foot and its Successor Units.
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M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918:
‘For distinguished service in connection with Military Operations with the Armies in France and Flanders.’
John Trehane was born in the small village of Linkinhorne, Cornwall, on 11 July 1894, the son of yeoman farmer John Trehane. Appointed to a commission in the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 4 March 1915, he was posted to Northumberland for training and soon caught the attention of the West Briton on 5 August 1915 when part of a victorious athletics team; at a meeting of 35 teams - held in conjunction with the Lord Mayor’s recruiting campaign at the Newcastle Town Moor - Trehane and nine comrades of the 5th D.C.L.I. squad won the Military Athletics Carnival.
Sent to France on 21 May 1916, Trehane went on to serve with the 1/5th Battalion, D.C.L.I. Territorial Force throughout the War. He was wounded in action on 5 January 1917 near the Aveluy-Thiepval Road on the Somme, the date corresponding with War Diary entries noting Battalion engagement in Pioneering tasks on behalf of 1st Division, notably road repairs, the revetment of trenches with brushwood hurdles, and the laying of duckboards - all under fire. Appointed second in command of ‘C’ Company in February 1918, Trehane witnessed first-hand the desperate rearguard actions during the opening stages of the German Spring Offensive. He was later awarded the Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours of 1918, with author Hugo White in his book One and All listing Trehane’s name alongside a host of other decorated men ‘in recognition of the many acts of bravery performed by officers and soldiers during the recent German Offensive (the Kaiserschlacht)...’
Returned home to south-east Cornwall, Trehane married Florence Mildred Burch at Liskeard in December 1921 and set about raising two sons and tending 180 acres of land at Rilla Mill near Callington. Devoting his time to stock farming and the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers, he was transferred to Class II as Captain upon reaching the age limit in 1934. Keen to serve once again in 1939, Trehane wrote a series of letters to the military authorities stating his desire to join the British Expeditionary Force. Politely rebutted, he determined to relinquish his commission in the T.A.R.O. so as to ‘join the ranks’, but was instead invited to the D.C.L.I. Depot at Bodmin and sent to Essex and the 16th Infantry Holding Battalion at Clacton. It was here that he saw out the Second World War, his time in the east of England followed by extensive service from 1945 to 1953 as Lieutenant in the 1st (North Cornwall) Home Guard. Awarded the Territorial Decoration in the London Gazette of 14 July 1953 after 20 years and 91 days with the Colours, Trehane left the running of the family farm to his sons John and Francis, and finally took his retirement at Westcliffe-on-Sea in Essex. It was here that he died on 28 June 1965.
Sold with an attractive swing-mounted group of five miniature awards comprising MC, BWM, VM, Defence and War Medals, the former of GRI vintage; two fine North Eastern Counties Cross Country Association silver and enamel fobs, engraved to reverse ‘Time Test Race. Long Benton. 10/7/15. 5th Duke Cornwall’s L.I. F. Co. 2nd. Lt. Trehane’, and ‘Inter Co. Race Hollinside. 17.7.15 1st 5th Duke Cornwall’s L.I. “F” Co. 2nd Lt. J. Trehane’.; Berwick A. A. Club Military Race 1915, silver fob by Fattorini & Sons, engraved to reverse ‘2nd. Team.’; with bronze and white metal D.C.L.I. cap badges and Home Guard pin; and copied research.
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