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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 214

(x) British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. C. H Woodhouse.), bent suspension bar, severe edge bruising and worn overall, good fine

Charles Hall Woodhouse was born on 15 April 1891 and spent his childhood at Blandford in Dorset, a member of the brewing dynasty founded by Charles Hall in 1777 and part-purchased by Edward Woodhouse in 1859.

Having enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment at the start of the Great War, he was captured during an early morning attack at Violaines in the Pas-de-Calais on 22 October 1914. The History of the Dorsetshire Regiment 1914-19 takes up the story:

'Lieutenant C. H. Woodhouse had been sent forward in the early morning with a machine-gun to find a position to sweep the road running north out of Violaines. He subsequently fired the machine-gun, but it 'fired badly' and he sent it back. At this point, covering the gun's withdrawal, he was last seen firing his revolver into the approaching enemy before disappearing from view.'

Charles would spend the rest of his war a Neunkirchen P.O.W. camp and was among the first recipients of the Military Cross (London Gazette 1 January 1915, refers); he was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 20 October 1914, refers).

On his repatriation, he married Stella Fairlie at Blandford St Mary and resumed his military career, becoming Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion in the 1930's and rising to the rank of Colonel (Hon. Brigadier) upon retirement in 1946. He was awarded the O.B.E. (London Gazette 11 May 1937, refers).

His nephew, John 'Jock' Woodhouse, M.C., director of the family firm from 1952-86, commanded the 22nd Regiment, S.A.S., and was responsible for introducing the 'selection course' in 1952 which is now reputed to be one of the most demanding military training courses in the world; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£85

Sale 18003 Notices
Not a unique name and rank as per MIC's. Estimate £15-20.