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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 381

(x) A Great War M.C. group of four to Staff Captain E. J. Whitson, Highland Light Infantry, who served alongside his brother on the Western Front, being injured when thrown from his horse on a mounted reconnaissance

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. J. Whitson. High. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals with copy M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt. E. J. Whitson.), the first unnamed as issued, small correction of surname to last, very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

Ernest James Whitson was born around 1885 at Bearsden, Dunbartonshire, the second son of Alexander Whitson, an Iron and Coal Merchant, of 7 Windsor Quadrant, Glasgow. Educated at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College - now the University of Strathclyde - Whitson enlisted in the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, being commissioned Temporary Lieutenant on 4 November 1914 (London Gazette 3 November 1914, refers). As such, he followed in the footsteps of his brother Wilfred Robert Whitson who had attested for the same Battalion in 1909 and was serving as Captain in early 1915. Interestingly, their military dress set them apart from the rest of the Highland Light Infantry as they wore kilts rather than 'trews'. It was popularly reported in the British Press that the Germans referred to them, together with other kilted soldiers, as 'ladies from Hell' or 'Devils in skirts'.

Posted to France on 9 July 1915, Whitson arrived just in time for a performance by his brother Wilfred of a popular music hall song written and composed by Arthur Wimperis and Herman Finck, given at Bethune Theatre in August. According to Shoulder to Shoulder by Colonel A. K. Reid, 'Wilfred was given high praise for his performance', indeed 'When they came on to sing in the chorus of Capt. Wilfred Whitson's song "Gilbert the Filbert the Colonel of the Knuts", the audience nearly took the roof off the house'.

The song itself is a cheeky number, which, if performed well, would most certainly rouse the troops:

I'm Gilbert the Filbert the Knut with a K
The pride of Piccadilly the blasé roué
Oh Hades, the ladies, who leave their wooden huts
For Gilbert the Filbert the Colonel of the Knuts.

On 1 July 1916, the Glasgow Highlanders were at the front at La Bassée, but a surprise German night attack on 14 July led to orders to relocate to Flatiron Copse and dig in. Under Wilfred as O.C., 'B' Company moved to the edge of the wood near the enemy positions, but the men were discovered and under heavy fire were forced to retire. Ernest likely witnessed further attacks, including that on 1 November 1916 south-east of Lesboeufs when his brother was forced to take command following the death of Colonel Stormonth Darling who was killed by a sniper. Unfortunately, the planned attack failed, Major John Menzies taking command of the 9th Battalion the following evening.

Promoted Lieutenant and later Staff Captain attached to Headquarters, 98th Infantry Brigade, Ernest was awarded the M.C. in the New Year's Honours List and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 20 December 1918, refers). However, at around this time he was also suffering from a haematoma to the right thigh. The Proceedings of a Medical Board describes the circumstances:

'In 1917 he was thrown from his horse and afterwards noticed a swelling of the right thigh, which was aspirated and had blood withdrawn. He was laid up for 10 days and had no further trouble until about the beginning of December. When he noticed stiffness and a swelling in the position of the old injury which rapidly increased in size. On 14-12-1918 the swelling was aspirated and 20cc dark red blood withdrawn. There is present an oval fluctuating swelling 3" x 2" in position as above.'

The event having occurred on a 'mounted reconnoitre' in France, Whitson was sent on 9 December 1918 to Queen Alexandra's Hospital, Highgate, for an operation, the injury being severe but not permanent. Sadly, his brother Wilfred did not survive the war, being killed whilst serving with the 9th Suffolk Regiment during a German attack at Gouzeaucourt on 30 November 1917. A second brother, Harold, was also killed in action.

Upon recovery, Ernest returned to Scotland and in 1925 became joint Managing Director of Lion Foundry Company Ltd, Kirkintilloch, later Chairman from 1 January 1951. The company specialised in producing prefabricated cast iron facades, their work displayed at Unilever House on the Thames Embankment (1931), Lambeth Bridge (1932) and Lothian House in Edinburgh (1939). In the 1950s the company focussed upon street furniture, producing the much-loved red telephone and Royal Mail post boxes. Whitson died at 'Forefaulds', East Kilbride on 19 July 1952; sold with copied MIC, officer service record and research, together with a contemporary Republique Francaise silver coin, the reverse erased and engraved 'Lt E J Whitson Glasgow Highlanders', pierced with small suspension loop.


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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Sale 19002 Notices
This lots is imported, therefore it is subject to 5% import VAT on the Hammer Price.