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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 674

An interesting group of five awarded to Warrant Officer 2nd Class A. J. Lodge, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment - who appears to have won the M.C. for 'fighting with wonderful pluck and valour' and saving the lives of 28 men and an officer at Souchez in the Pas-de-Calais

Military Cross, G.V.R., a contemporary copy, reverse engraved "Replica" No. 11776. Coy. Sgt. Maj. A. J. Lodge, 10th. Battn. Duke of Wellington Regt.'; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3896 Serjt: A. Lodge. W. Riding Regt.); 1914-15 Star (11776. Sjt. A. J. Lodge, W. Rid. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-11776 W.O. Cl.2 A. J. Lodge. W.Rid.R.), nearly very fine and better (5)


Alfred John Lodge was born in 1874 at Romford, Essex, the husband of Emma Haldin of Pines Cottage, Standon Road, Puckeridge, Hertfordshire. A carman by trade, he attested for the West Riding Regiment on 3 October 1893, his papers noting previous service with the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. After four years in the East Indies, Lodge was posted to South Africa from 1 August 1902-9 September 1902, before being discharged at York on 2 October 1909. Re-attesting on 16 September 1914, Lodge was appointed Sergeant and sent to France with the 2nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment, on 26 August 1915. Promoted Warrant Officer 2nd Class on 8 December 1915, a contemporary newspaper article describes the award of the M.C. to Lodge:

'Puckeridge Soldier Decorated with the Military Cross

On the 8th inst. Company-Sergeant-Major A. J. Lodge, M.C., of the West Riding Regiment, who attained the rank of a warrant officer during the present war, was decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace with the Military Cross. His Majesty said he was very proud to have the honour of pinning on the breast such a decoration. In all at this function 15 other soldiers received decorations. This gallant soldier, who has been discharged from the Army owing to disablement, has served 19 years (sic) with the colours. He was awarded the distinction for conspicuous bravery. On March 11th, 1916, at Suchez (sic), he brought in 14 wounded men under heavy machine gun fire, dressed their wounds and sent them to the dressing station. Later in the day he saved 14 men with frost bitten feet from falling into the enemy's hands. On July 9th his heroism was still further marked. After fighting with wonderful pluck and valour he brought in an officer who was mortally wounded under very heavy machine gun fire, and was himself wounded in the back and received such injuries to the spine that eventually led to his discharge from the Army. He holds three medals gained in the Boer War and India. Four of his brothers are in the war now and one was among the 700 heroic Mons veterans who took part in the great Albert Hall commemoration on Saturday last.'

Admitted to Bath War Hospital on 19 July 1916, Lodge was discharged on 22 August 1917 no longer physically fit for war service and was awarded Silver War Badge '258659'. He took employment as the local postman and became widely and affectionately known as 'Grandfather Lodge' amid the gently rolling hills of East Hertfordshire (Flesh - The Great Illusion, the autobiography of Ronald Wright, the grandson of Lodge, refers). In November 1931 his request for a L.S. & G.C. Medal was turned down by Captain V. R. Booth, having served 11 years and 40 days with the colours rather than the required 18 years. A 'very proud old man, he was even prouder when my mother presented him with his first, indeed only, grandson.' (ibid)

Lodge died at Puckeridge around 1956; sold with copied Boer War service record, noting entitlement to QSA Medal with clasps Transvaal and South Africa 1902; four original photographs of the recipient in uniform, one showing him wearing the M.C. and a K.S.A. to which he is not entitled, and possibly an L.S. & G.C., original newspaper cutting with M.C. citation, hand-annotated '8/12/1917', together with original Certificates of Character and Discharge contained in a maroon War Office wallet, the interior named in ink to recipient and dated 22 August 1917, and copied MIC.


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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£210