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Auction archive: Lot number 50

A scarce Great War 1918 ‘German Spring

Estimate
£3,000 - £4,000
ca. US$3,741 - US$4,988
Price realised:
£4,800
ca. US$5,985
Auction archive: Lot number 50

A scarce Great War 1918 ‘German Spring

Estimate
£3,000 - £4,000
ca. US$3,741 - US$4,988
Price realised:
£4,800
ca. US$5,985
Beschreibung:

A scarce Great War 1918 ‘German Spring Offensive’ D.C.M., 1916 ‘French theatre’ M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant S. J. Menadue, 251st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, who at Givenchy, ‘with another was in charge of a portion of underground defence that was overrun by the enemy; they, however, refused to surrender, and remained below with an officer who was unable to walk, having always in view the possibility of an escape during the confusion. Their anticipation's were justified, and in spite of a heavy machine-gun fire and shell barrage they succeeded in carrying the wounded officer into safety and in rescuing six other men’ Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (132221 Sjt: S. J. Menadue. 251/T’Lg: Coy R.E.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (132221 L. Cpl. S. J. Menadue 251/T’Lg: Co. R.E.); 1914-15 Star (132221 Spr: S. J. Menadue, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (132221 Sjt. S. J. Menadue. R.E.) mounted for display, generally good very fine (5) £3,000-£4,000 Footnote D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This non-commissioned officer with another was in charge of a portion of underground defence that was overrun by the enemy; they, however, refused to surrender, and remained below with an officer who was unable to walk, having always in view the possibility of an escape during the confusion. Their anticipation's were justified, and in spite of a heavy machine-gun fire and shell barrage they succeeded in carrying the wounded officer into safety and in rescuing six other men. The happy result of this enterprise was due to the courage and resource of these non-commissioned officers, who were equally responsible for its success.’ M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916. Simeon John Menadue was a native of Scorrier, St Day, Cornwall, and was a miner prior to the Great War. He initially enlisted in the 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Cornwall Pioneers) before serving during the Great War with the 251st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers in the French theatre of war from 10 October 1915. The 251st Tunnelling Company served at Givenchy for the entirety of its’ war service. The following detail behind Menadue’s gallantry at Givenchy, in which he helped rescue Captain Walker, M.C., during the German Spring Offensive of 1918, is given in The Tunnellers by Captain W. Grant Grieve and B. Newman: ‘On 17th April, after a period of nine days in the line, the party at Givenchy was relieved by Captain Walker, M.C., Lieutenants Rees and Marsland and thirty-nine other ranks. Owing to the situation prevailing at the time, and the strong possibility of a further German onslaught, the Tunnellers were told off to special stations to assist the infantry in resisting the threatened attack. Their positions were as follows: Lieutenant Marsland, one N.C.O. and three other ranks at Moat Farm entrance to Bunny Hutch Subway, Lieutenant Rees and a party of twenty men at No. 4 shaft penthouse and the sap leading thereto. (This was rather an exposed position, but it was excellently sited to cover the north side of Caledonian Road penthouse and Moat Farm entrance.) One N.C.O. and four men in Givenchy Keep dugout system to act as guides and maintain liaison between the garrison in Givenchy Keep and Mairie Redoubt. Colonel Evans, 1st Black Watch, approved of these dispositions on the evening of the 17th April. The Tunnellers then went about their lawful occupations of pumping, listening and maintenance in the mines, dugouts and subways. Since 9th April almost incessant shelling had been directed on Givenchy, particularly on strong points like Moat Farm and Givenchy Keep, the exact location of which, no doubt, the enemy had noted during his brief occupation. They had resisted very well, although numerous direct hits had been registered on them. Scarcely a vestige of habitable trench remained. On 18th April, after a bombardment of unprecedented severity which lasted eight hours, du

Auction archive: Lot number 50
Auction:
Datum:
16 Apr 2020
Auction house:
Dix Noonan Webb
16 Bolton St, Mayfair
London, W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
auctions@dnw.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7016 1700
+44 (0)20 7016 1799
Beschreibung:

A scarce Great War 1918 ‘German Spring Offensive’ D.C.M., 1916 ‘French theatre’ M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant S. J. Menadue, 251st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, who at Givenchy, ‘with another was in charge of a portion of underground defence that was overrun by the enemy; they, however, refused to surrender, and remained below with an officer who was unable to walk, having always in view the possibility of an escape during the confusion. Their anticipation's were justified, and in spite of a heavy machine-gun fire and shell barrage they succeeded in carrying the wounded officer into safety and in rescuing six other men’ Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (132221 Sjt: S. J. Menadue. 251/T’Lg: Coy R.E.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (132221 L. Cpl. S. J. Menadue 251/T’Lg: Co. R.E.); 1914-15 Star (132221 Spr: S. J. Menadue, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (132221 Sjt. S. J. Menadue. R.E.) mounted for display, generally good very fine (5) £3,000-£4,000 Footnote D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This non-commissioned officer with another was in charge of a portion of underground defence that was overrun by the enemy; they, however, refused to surrender, and remained below with an officer who was unable to walk, having always in view the possibility of an escape during the confusion. Their anticipation's were justified, and in spite of a heavy machine-gun fire and shell barrage they succeeded in carrying the wounded officer into safety and in rescuing six other men. The happy result of this enterprise was due to the courage and resource of these non-commissioned officers, who were equally responsible for its success.’ M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916. Simeon John Menadue was a native of Scorrier, St Day, Cornwall, and was a miner prior to the Great War. He initially enlisted in the 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (Cornwall Pioneers) before serving during the Great War with the 251st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers in the French theatre of war from 10 October 1915. The 251st Tunnelling Company served at Givenchy for the entirety of its’ war service. The following detail behind Menadue’s gallantry at Givenchy, in which he helped rescue Captain Walker, M.C., during the German Spring Offensive of 1918, is given in The Tunnellers by Captain W. Grant Grieve and B. Newman: ‘On 17th April, after a period of nine days in the line, the party at Givenchy was relieved by Captain Walker, M.C., Lieutenants Rees and Marsland and thirty-nine other ranks. Owing to the situation prevailing at the time, and the strong possibility of a further German onslaught, the Tunnellers were told off to special stations to assist the infantry in resisting the threatened attack. Their positions were as follows: Lieutenant Marsland, one N.C.O. and three other ranks at Moat Farm entrance to Bunny Hutch Subway, Lieutenant Rees and a party of twenty men at No. 4 shaft penthouse and the sap leading thereto. (This was rather an exposed position, but it was excellently sited to cover the north side of Caledonian Road penthouse and Moat Farm entrance.) One N.C.O. and four men in Givenchy Keep dugout system to act as guides and maintain liaison between the garrison in Givenchy Keep and Mairie Redoubt. Colonel Evans, 1st Black Watch, approved of these dispositions on the evening of the 17th April. The Tunnellers then went about their lawful occupations of pumping, listening and maintenance in the mines, dugouts and subways. Since 9th April almost incessant shelling had been directed on Givenchy, particularly on strong points like Moat Farm and Givenchy Keep, the exact location of which, no doubt, the enemy had noted during his brief occupation. They had resisted very well, although numerous direct hits had been registered on them. Scarcely a vestige of habitable trench remained. On 18th April, after a bombardment of unprecedented severity which lasted eight hours, du

Auction archive: Lot number 50
Auction:
Datum:
16 Apr 2020
Auction house:
Dix Noonan Webb
16 Bolton St, Mayfair
London, W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
auctions@dnw.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7016 1700
+44 (0)20 7016 1799
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