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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 112

Three: 2nd Lieutenant A. R. Rouse, Royal Air Force, late 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who had his arm broken by a bullet on the First Day of the Battle of Loos

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. A. R. Rouse. R. Berks. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. A. R. Rouse.), in their named boxes of issue, with postage envelope, nearly extremely fine (3)

Aubyn Redmond Rouse was born on 6 January 1882, one of six sons of H. J. Rouse of Endyon, Walton-on-Thames. His father was clearly a true Victorian, for at family meal times the children were to be silent while their parents conversed in French. When their offspring learnt French, the elders switched to Arabic.

Like his brothers, young Rouse went up to Eton College 1895 and was a member of the Cricket XI and was a member of the Eton College Volunteers from May 1898-August 1901, rising to become a Colour-Sergeant. Before the outbreak of the Great War, he had taken up work as an Underwriter at Lloyd's. He enlisted for service on 9 November 1914, joining the Inns of Court OTC as a Lance-Corporal (No. 2039). Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 10 February, he joined the 8th Battalion and served in France from 9 August 1915. His unit were to the fore at the Battle of Loos, with Rouse himself being amongst the wounded. In the action, the 8th Battalion suffered no less than 17 Officers and 500 men as casualties. Rouse went back to England from Dieppe aboard Anglia and arrived on 30 September. Treated at the 1st London General Hosptial, right arm was confirmed as broken due to the bullet wound, with a nasty septic wound still 'discharging' and other damage as a result. Following his treatment, a further operation to drain the wounds was required on 18 November 1915. Rouse transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and thence the Royal Air Force, becoming and Equipment Officer.

His Medals were issued to him at Lloyd's, Royal Exchange, EC3 in March 1922. Rouse died at Bloomsbury on 12 June 1939.

His story, and that of his comrades of the 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, is told by Andrew Tatham in A Group Photograph - Before, Now & In-Between, a copy of which is included with the Lot; sold together with copied research and service records.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£130