A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars

Six: Major C. C. L. Barlow, Lincolnshire Regiment, a veteran of the Sudan Campaign 1896, and the expedition to Uganda in 1900, subsequently killed in action at Wytschaete, 1 November 1914

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Lt., 1/Lin. R.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Uganda 1900 (Capt., Linc. Rgt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Major, Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Atbara (Captn., 1st Bn., Lincoln Regt.) some very minor edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise good very fine or better and the A.G.S. probably unique to the regiment (6) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

View
Collection

See Colour Plate III

Cuthbert Charles Lambert Barlow was killed in action on 1 November 1914, whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Major Barlow was killed following a gallant attack on the German trenches, at Wytschaete on 31 October 1914, after which the surviving members of the battalion found themselves precariously placed, ‘in a tiny fold in the ground, about one hundred yards from the position so strongly held by the enemy.’ The following detail is extracted from the regimental history: ‘Here the remnants of the battalion lay until 6:45a.m. (1 November). Daylight disclosed their position and soon they were under merciless artillery fire from the enemy’s guns as well as rifle fire from both flanks, while, to make matters worse, their own guns began to shell them. From this terrible position it was imperative to withdraw, but how to do it! At great risk, Colonel Smith had only been able to keep in touch with the situation of his battalion by crawling from company to company, and now he saw that the only thing to do was to make a dash for a hedgerow and small fold in the ground in the rear. “On Colonel Smith giving the word,” records the Battalion Diary, “we got up and ran for our lives towards the dip, the enemy opening a murderous fire, but probably owing to surprise and excitement a great many of their shots went high and many of us succeeded in reaching shelter,”

The survivors formed a rough line; the next thing to cross in their retirement was a long glacis-like slope. On emerging from cover, the battalion once again came under heavy fire, but fortunately suffered only a few casualties. At last the glacis slope was passed and the Lincolnshire, strung out into skirmishing order, fell back in the direction of Kemmel.’ The losses to the battalion in this action comprised some five officers, including Major Barlow, together with 293 other ranks killed.