Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Second Lieutenent R. G. Hudson, 19th London Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed ‘R. G. Hudson, 19th Batt., London Regt., Won June 28th 1918’; 1914-15 Star (2112 L. Cpl. (A. Sjt.), 19-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.) good very fine (4) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection formed by Peter Wardrop.

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M.C. London Gazette 27 July 1916: ‘For conspicuous gallantry when in command of a raiding party. Though partly incapacitated during the advance he stuck to his command doing fine work all the time his party were in the enemy’s trenches. On his return he had to be ordered to hospital.’

The 47th (London) Divisional History states: ‘.....the first Divisional raid was done by the 19th Battalion near the Bully Crater in the Angres sector, the prelude to many successes achieved later by the Division in these enterprises. It was preceded by a discharge of gas, for which some 1,300 cylinders had been brought up in A.S.C. wagons with old motor car tyres fitted to their wheels. Two raiding parties with blackened faces reached the Bosche trenches successfully, secured a live prisoner for identification purposes, and killed others.’

Sold with further research detail which states that Hudson was incapacitated in the attack due to inhaling gas. As a result of this he did not serve overseas again.