A Rare, Early & Important
BATTLE of MONS (Le Cateau) Survivor.
MILITARY MEDAL
1914 Star and Bar Group of Four.
Later Wounded at DELVILLE WOOD, (Somme)
1111, PTE WILLIAM NOBLE,
1st Battalion GORDON HIGHLANDERS
&
Later, Seaforth Highlanders.
[THE MEDALS]
-all officially impressed-
Military Medal. (London Gazette, 27th October 1916
1111. SGT: W. NOBLE. 1/GORD: Hdrs.
1914 Star (with original Aug-Nov clasp)
1111. Pte. W. NOBLE. 1/GORD. Highrs
War & Victory medals.
1111 SGT. W. NOBLE. GORD. HIGHRS.
[WILLIAM NOBLE] 1894-
William was born in 1894 and by looking at his service number, (the very memorable “ 1111 “) he joined the army in late 1912 and thus was a classic “Old Contemptible” of the Great War.
An early entrant to France at Boulogne on 13th August 1914.
[LE CATEAU. 26/27 August 1914]
Having only just arrived in France on 14th August 1914, just a few days later on 26/27 August the 1st Gordon’s sustained huge losses of men both killed and taken prisoner with over 600 lost & captured at Le Cateau where after the action only 5 officers and 213 men of the battalion remained at roll call.
[BATTLE OF THE SOMME. LONGUEVAL)
The 1st battalion captured the village of Longueval on 14th July 1916, but were then trapped in Deville Wood by enemy machine gunfire, and artillery bombardment. They remained there for eight hours but fought on until they were forced to withdraw to hold part of the line for the next week until relieved. They suffered more than 350 casualties of which William Noble was one when he sustained a broken right elbow.
It was for his bravery during this action that William Noble was decorated with his Military Medal.
[SUMMARY]
This group is unusual in that it was awarded to a man who must have had nine lives in that he survived some of the most difficult early actions of Great War. He avoided death or capture at Le Cateau in 1914 and fought on the Somme in 1916, but sustained a broken right elbow at Longueval on 22nd July 1916. He was then 22. His hospital records state: “Hospital Ship, Calais, 1st August 1916” after 11 days of treatment. Obviously he was evacuated to the UK for further treatment . He was at some point transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders as Pte S/20561. (M.I.C. confirms).
After that, William disappears from the written records as his service papers have not survived. Due to the severe nature of his elbow injury it would seem unlikely that he returned to combat service in France.
All medals are on original ribbons, are totally original and EF+ having never been cleaned. Their surfaces carry an excellent, natural & time developed deep patina. The group comes with copy MIC & hospital records and an original WW1 “Gordon Highlanders” cap badge.
An Excellent Early Gallantry Group to a gallant wounded soldier and a great addition to a collection of quality Scottish medals.
£1100
[THE MEDALS]
-all officially impressed-
Military Medal. (London Gazette, 27th October 1916
1111. SGT: W. NOBLE. 1/GORD: Hdrs.
1914 Star (with original Aug-Nov clasp)
1111. Pte. W. NOBLE. 1/GORD. Highrs
War & Victory medals.
1111 SGT. W. NOBLE. GORD. HIGHRS.
[WILLIAM NOBLE] 1894-
William was born in 1894 and by looking at his service number, (the very memorable “ 1111 “) he joined the army in late 1912 and thus was a classic “Old Contemptible” of the Great War.
An early entrant to France at Boulogne on 13th August 1914.
[LE CATEAU. 26/27 August 1914]
Having only just arrived in France on 14th August 1914, just a few days later on 26/27 August the 1st Gordon’s sustained huge losses of men both killed and taken prisoner with over 600 lost & captured at Le Cateau where after the action only 5 officers and 213 men of the battalion remained at roll call.
[BATTLE OF THE SOMME. LONGUEVAL)
The 1st battalion captured the village of Longueval on 14th July 1916, but were then trapped in Deville Wood by enemy machine gunfire, and artillery bombardment. They remained there for eight hours but fought on until they were forced to withdraw to hold part of the line for the next week until relieved. They suffered more than 350 casualties of which William Noble was one when he sustained a broken right elbow.
It was for his bravery during this action that William Noble was decorated with his Military Medal.
[SUMMARY]
This group is unusual in that it was awarded to a man who must have had nine lives in that he survived some of the most difficult early actions of Great War. He avoided death or capture at Le Cateau in 1914 and fought on the Somme in 1916, but sustained a broken right elbow at Longueval on 22nd July 1916. He was then 22. His hospital records state: “Hospital Ship, Calais, 1st August 1916” after 11 days of treatment. Obviously he was evacuated to the UK for further treatment . He was at some point transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders as Pte S/20561. (M.I.C. confirms).
After that, William disappears from the written records as his service papers have not survived. Due to the severe nature of his elbow injury it would seem unlikely that he returned to combat service in France.
All medals are on original ribbons, are totally original and EF+ having never been cleaned. Their surfaces carry an excellent, natural & time developed deep patina. The group comes with copy MIC & hospital records and an original WW1 “Gordon Highlanders” cap badge.
An Excellent Early Gallantry Group to a gallant wounded soldier and a great addition to a collection of quality Scottish medals. £1100