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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 398

The 'Battle of Le Transloy Ridge' M.M. group of four awarded to Company Sergeant-Major E. A. Watson, 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, late 5th (Cyclist) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment whose bravery while the Battalion took Le Sars on 7 October 1916 earned him the award but tragically was killed the next year at the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1916

Military Medal, G.V.R. (12955 Sjt: E. A. Watson. 11/W. York:R.); 1914-15 Star (12955 Sjt E. A. Watson. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (12955 W. O. Cl. 2. E. A. Watson. W. York. R.), edge bruising and minor contact wear, overall very fine (4)

M.M London Gazette 9 December 1916, the citation given in the Yorkshire Herald 19 January 1918 states:

'Great gallantry on 7th October 1916, in the steady leading and controlling of his Company after all the officers had become casualties'

Ernest Arthur Watson was born in April 1888 at Great Driffield, Yorkshire, the son of Arthur and Hannah Watson of Southowram, West Yorkshire. Working as a Woodworking Machinist in 1911 he was living at 11 Gordon Terrace, Driffield. After this he joined 5th (Cyclist) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, re-engaging in June 1912 as a Lance Sergeant, he was still serving the next year but had left by the outbreak of the Great War. Re-enlisting in Hull, Watson joined 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment in France on 26 August 1915.

This Battalion was one of the leading formations at the Capture of Le Sars in October 1916, during the Battle of Le Transloy Ridge. They joined the assault around 14:00 but had been caught up in the supporting bombardment and the first attack upon the German held Flers line was unsuccessful as a result. However a bombing attack met with greater success and they succeeded in pushing the enemy from his now exposed trenches. The Battalion had lost particularly heavily by this stage the villages was taken and consolidated. The next year they were again in the frontline in the area of the Somme, for the opening moves of the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. 11th Battalion was in position opposite Hill 60 and as such was in a good position to see the mines detonated under the German Lines. Sweeping from their trenches they joined the rest of 23rd Division in pushing up to and consolidating the devastated German frontline. Pushing on to attack 'Blue Line' they suffered heavy losses amongst their Officers but comparatively light losses with the Other Ranks. They also managed to capture two German machine guns which were sent to Leeds as gifts for the Lord Mayor. Watson however was killed during the offensive, one of the 253 other ranks killed, wounded or missing; he is remembered upon the Menin Gate Memorial; sold together with copied research including M.I.C., medal rolls and Commonwealth War Graves details as well as two extracts from the Snapper, four extracts from the York Herald and extracts from regimental histories relating to the capture of Le Sars and the Battle of Messines.

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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£220