The Brian Kieran Collection

A particularly fine O.B.E., Great War “V.C. action” M.C. group of seven awarded to Brigadier T. H. Darwell, Royal Tank Corps, late East Surrey Regiment, who was decorated for his great gallantry during the East Surrey’s epic stand on Hill 60 in April 1915 - an action that resulted in the award of three V.Cs to his comrades: such were the casualties inflicted on his unit that the honour of leading it out of the action fell to him as a young Lieutenant

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. T. H. Darwell, E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. T. H. Darwell); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, very fine and better (7)
£1700-1900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Kieran Collection.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1925.

M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915.

Thomas Herbert “Cherry” Darwell, who was born in May 1890, was commissioned in the East Surrey Regiment in March 1910. Advanced to Lieutenant in February 1913, he was embarked with the 1st Battalion for France and Flanders in August 1914, where he served as Adjutant in September-October, in addition to having command of the Battalion’s machine-gun section, and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 17 February 1915). As verified by the regimental history, Darwell saw considerable action in this period, and his Battalion was warmly praised by Field Marshal Sir John French:

‘As part of the 5th Division you had your share of the fighting whilst retreating after Mons and Le Cateau. At the battle of the Marne you had to attack the most difficult section of the line, and the attack was brilliantly carried out. A week later you were engaged at the Aisne and subjected to incessant German rifle and shell fire from the commanding German position above. Followed by La Bassee, where you were faced by three if not four times your numbers experiencing some of the fiercest fighting of the War. Latterly, in the trench fighting, you have gallantly defended your lines against the most determined attacks and the most vigorous shelling.’

Yet Darwell and his comrades in the 1st East Surreys were shortly to witness far fiercer fighting, namely the Battalion’s epic stand at Hill 60 on 20-21 April 1915, an action that witnessed extraordinary acts of courage and self-sacrifice, and casualties of seven officers and 106 other ranks killed, and eight officers and 158 other ranks wounded. An action, too, that resulted in the Battalion winning three V.Cs, two M.Cs and nine D.C.Ms, among other accolades. In fact, according to Sir Charles Ferguson, the Corps Commander, ‘It was the most magnificent thing yet in the whole war’.



During the action Darwell’s machine-gun section had five guns mounted in the front line, one in ‘C’ Company’s trench, covering the right flank of the hill, and four in ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies’ fire trenches, sweeping ground on the left and front of the hill. The Battalion’s war diary takes up the story on 20 April 1915:

‘A quiet time till 11 a.m. when heavy shelling of the hill, communicating and support trenches commenced, with great effect, the Germans scoring many direct hits with heavy howitzers. Trenches were blown in and many men killed and buried. During this time Captain & Adjutant Wynyard seeing some men attending wounded men near a shelled spot, went towards them, moved the men along the trench away from the danger spot, attended the wounded himself and in doing so was blown to bits. During this time the Germans were crawling up their old communication trenches and flinging bombs into our fire trenches, but could make no headway owing to our hand grenades and rifle fire. On the death of Captain Wynyard, Major Peterson, the Commanding Officer, sent for 2nd Lieutenant Dymott to take over the duties of Adjutant, temporarily. About 2 p.m. Captain Wynter, Commanding ‘B’ Company, went forward on to the hill to reconnoitre the trenches held by ‘A’ Company before taking over after dark. During the reconnaissance he was wounded in the leg, and placed in a dug-out for shelter; soon afterwards the dug-out was hit by a shell which caused Captain Wynter’s death. About 3 p.m. the Germans in front of ‘B’ Company attempted to assault that trench, but on rising from their trench were hurled back by hand grenades and rifle fire. In this action, Private Dwyer, ‘B’ Company [who was awarded the V.C.], greatly distinguished himself by crawling up the parapet and flinging hand grenades at the enemy, he himself being under a perfect hail of enemy bombs. About this time Lieutenant Watson who was in the support trench was killed by a heavy howitzer shell. About 3.30 p.m. Lieutenant Darwell, the Machine Gun Officer, was sent for by the C.O. to go to Battalion H.Q. to take over the duties of Adjutant to the Battalion. On arrival there he found Major Paterson, the C.O. killed, and that 2nd Lieutenant Dymott had been seriously wounded and carried to the dressing station. Now a most terrific bombardment of the position commenced, which lasted for two hours, the hill during this time being a mass of smoke, flame and debris ... The result of this was every telephone line to the rear was cut and communication with the Artillery and Sector H.Q. made impossible. By this time every man from the support trenches had been sent to reinforce the fire trenches on the hill and still more men were wanted. In taking up these supports 2nd Lieutenant Norton was killed by a heavy howitzer in the communication trench. Lieutenant Roupell [who was awarded the V.C.], wounded in several places, succeeded in reaching Sector H.Q. when the bombardment was at its height, and explained to Colonel Griffiths, Commanding Sector, the situation, asking for reinforcements. Corporal Harding, the Battalion Signalling Corporal, also managed to deliver a message asking for reinforcements to Sector H.Q. An orderly was sent with the ‘S.O.S.’ signal to the Artillery Observing station on the “Dump”. The reinforcements arrived about 6 p.m. and Major Allison, 1st Bedfords, took over command of the hill position. The bombardment of front line lasted to about this hour and after this all their Artillery fire was directed against reserve and support trenches and lines of approach; this continued well into the night, and abated somewhat about midnight. Throughout the night until 3 a.m. the enemy repeatedly assaulted our trenches on the hill with bombs; only once did they succeed in gaining a footing and then they were immediately driven out. Once during the night the enemy attempted to assault the trench held by ‘B’ Company, but were immediately driven back by rifle fire. Lateral telephonic communication between companies was restored about 10 p.m. From 3 to 6 a.m. the situation was much quieter.

At 6 a.m. the position was taken over by the Devon Regiment and 2nd Lieutenant Davis, who was with his Company all through the night on the hill, was killed as he was being relieved. Captain Huth was killed on the night of the 19th. After relief the Battalion, now under command of Lieutenant T. H. Darwell, marched to billets at Kruisstraat, bringing with it the body of the Commanding Officer, Major Paterson, which was interred later on in the day in the Convent grounds, Ypres.’

Upon hearing of the magnificent stand of the East Surreys, Brigadier-General Maude, C.O. of 14th Brigade, sent Darwell the following message to read out to the Battalion’s survivors:

‘Since I have had the honour of commanding this splendid brigade, the East Surreys have earned from me nothing but the highest commendation for their work, whether in the field or in quarters, and knowing you as I do, it is just what I expected of you all. May your great deeds stand forth, as I know they will, as a brilliant example to those who will hereafter have the privilege of joining the ranks of your fine regiment. My sincerest sympathy with all the wounded in their sufferings.’

Darwell was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 22 June 1915), awarded the M.C. and advanced to Captain.

Posted as an instructor to the Machine Gun Corps Training Centre in June 1916, in the rank of Temporary Major, Darwell received further promotion to Acting Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1917 and was appointed Chief Instructor M.G.C. at the end of the same year. The recipient of two further “mentions” (London Gazettes 4 January and 18 December 1917 refer), he served back out in France from October 1918 until February 1919.

Transferring to the Tank Corps in July 1921, he became Senior Instructor at the Tank Gunnery School at Lulworth in late 1925, where, according to Liddell Hart, he carried out important experimental work in the period leading up to the 1930s - indeed it was under Darwell’s leadership that ‘great progress was made in the technique of tank gunnery’. Having then been advanced to Colonel, he was appointed C.O. of the Royal Tank Corps in India in the mid-1930s and, in October 1939, Commandant of the Fighting Vehicle School. Given the acting rank of Brigadier in August 1941, Darwell became an A.D.C. to the King in March 1943 and was placed on the Retired List in July 1944. He died in Johannesburg in April 1977.