Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 253

Three: Private E. J. Durman, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment who was killed in action at Ghulevelt on 29 October 1914

1914 Star (1091 Pte. E. J. Durman. 2/Welsh R.); British War and Victory Medals (1091 Pte. E. J. Durman. Welsh R.), minor contact marks fine (3)

Edwin John Durman was born at Cadoxton, Barry and lived at 37 Brook Street, Barry, Glamorgan. Enlisting at Cardiff on 25 November 1911 he was already a professional soldier on the outbreak of the Great War. Entering the war on 13 September 1914 Durman took part in the 'Race to the Sea' with the rest of the 2nd Battalion and found himself as part of the defence of Gheluvelt opening on 29 October 1914.

The account of Captain (later Brigadier-General) Hubert Rees describes the action from the perspective of the Welsh Regiment. He notes that the bulk of the Battalion was all but wiped out by the opening artillery barrage. The few survivors were pushed right back to the artillery line and, when the German attack threatened to break the line, some went forward as a reserve with the Worcestershire Regiment's famous charge. Rees, who had briefly joined the Worcesters, notes the fate of those who stayed with the guns stating:

'I went on to see what was going on and just reached the end of the village when I heard my name shouted and, turning back, I saw Colonel Morland. He shouted to me to come to him saying that these 10 men attacks were no use. He added that Ferrar had been killed leading a bayonet charge near the barricade and that the battalion had been wiped out. It appeared that while I was absent with the 54th Battery, the survivors under Colonel Morland, Major Pritchard, Captain Ferrar and Moore had had a most desperate fight on the north edge of Gheluvelt, at one time getting as far back as the barricade where Ferrar was killed and Pritchard severely wounded. Morland and I started to walk back towards the 54th Battery and men from all the regiments involved were running back in the same direction. We endeavoured to rally a few of the groups and collected 25 men of the Welsh Regiment by the time we reached the guns. We got into a trench near the battery and were joined by Moore and Corder.'

While the village had been retaken there were still a great many German troops inside it and further attacks continued. The survivors of the original Battalions were formed into ad-hoc units which held parts of the line as best they could. The terrible drain on men and officers continued as Rees notes:

'By this time, the enemy had pushed up south of the Menin Road past Gheluvelt as the battery was under rifle fire and bullets were striking the parapet of a trench a little to our right. Captain Robinson came over to say that Major Peel had been wounded by a bullet through the leg and that he was now commanding the battery. There were now eight officers standing together in the trench. Moore on the left, myself next, then Morland and next to him Captain Robinson with Corder, a captain in the Gloucesters, and somebody else beyond again. It was then that a shell burst in front killing Moore on my left and mortally wounding Colonel Morland on my right. It was a final blow. Morland was a terrible loss. He remained to the very end as cool and collected as if he was on parade at home. Moore was also a great loss and the regiment lost one of its bravest officers.'

Himself the only surviving officer of the Regiment in that part of the line, he collected the few survivors - around 25 - and along with troops from the Queens was able to muster a defence. The end of the day brought the losses to 16 officers and almost 600 men: the Battalion had effectively ceased to exist. Durman was amongst the dead, his body was never recovered and he is commemorated upon the Menin Gate Memorial; sold together with a slip of issue and O.H.M.S. box containing the Defence and War Medals of Leading Aircraftman R. Durman as well as copied research including Register of Effects, M.I.C. and Commonwealth War Graves certificate.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£320

Starting price
£140