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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 308

An interesting campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant R. E. W. Sandall, 1/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, later Royal Air Force, the son of the Battalion's first CO, he later commanded their Machine Gun Section at Ypres in May 1915 and was wounded in action whilst Intelligence Officer in December 1916 near Fonquevillers whilst leading a patrol into No Man's Land

Joining the Royal Flying Corps he flew from 1917 as an Observer in DH.4's with No. 57 Squadron

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. R. E. W. Sandall. Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. E. W. Sandall. R.A.F.), mounted as worn, good very fine (3)

Robert Edward Wychenford Sandall was born in Alford, Lincolnshire on 31 May 1897, the son of Colonel T.E. Sandall, C.M.G.. He was educated at Louth Grammar School and Haileybury, March 1911-February 1914, having been a member of the Officer Training Corps at both schools. Living at home Sutton-on-Sea on the outbreak of the Great War and he served with the 1/5th Battalion, which was commanded by his father. Young Sandall applied for a commission at Lincoln on 29 September 1914 and was granted a commission into the Territorial Force as a 2nd Lieutenant on 2 October. He arrived in France on 28 February 1915 and served initially with 'B' Company.

During the battles for the Ypres Salient in 1915, Sandall who had served for six months as the Battalion's Assistant Machine Gun Officer, assumed command of the Machine Gun Section on Lieutenant O. Dixon being wounded on 30 May 1915, when serving in the Kemmel Sector. Sandall was then invalided to England suffering from trench fever on 9 July 1915. Returned to action as Battalion Lewis Gun Officer, he was in command of the eight Lewis guns allotted to the Battalion after the dissolution of the Machine Gun Section on 31 May 1916. Sandall was then placed with the Battalion Headquarters in order to better oversee the Lewis guns, two being allotted for each company. He then served right through the Battles of the Somme.

Sandall was finally granted a Regular Commission on 4 July 1916 and had been promoted Lieutenant the previous year. On 5 December 1916, the unit moved into the line near Fonquevillers, the trenches being very muddy and wet. Now serving as Battalion Intelligence Officer on 6 December, he led a patrol out into No Man's Land to reconnoitre and were ambushed by a German party on the Hannescamp-Essarts Road. The enemy opened fire on the patrol at close range and also bombed heavily. Sandall was wounded and the patrol retired with one man missing; it led to the award of two M.M.s for retaliatory actions later in the day - Sergeant J. W. Hall and Private J. Wilkinson being decorated.

Recovered from his wounds on 11 May 1917 he then left to take command of the Brigade Lewis Gun School but was then seconded to the Royal Flying Corps from 29 July 1917. He served with No. 57 Squadron in France in January 1918, operating from Sainte-Marie-Cappel, flying as an Observer flying in DH.4's.

He eventually resigned his commission on 22 December 1925 and left England. The family settled at The Vicarage, Krugersdorp, Transvaal but did not stay all that long. Sandall was later appointed Examining Officer, H.M. Customs Kenya Colony and moved to Kilindini; sold together with copied MIC and research, including the image of Thomason House, Haileybury, Summer 1914, Sandall and his brother featured.


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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£200