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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 128

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Corporal W. Garbutt who was personally assigned to guard the communications trench by Captain H. T. Edwards, 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment during his V.C. winning - 'Surrender be damned'- last stand at Ypres, like Edwards, Garbutt was killed at his post

1914-15 Star (2194 Cpl W. Garbutt. Monmouth:R.), polished and worn, very fine

William Garbutt was born at Woolwich in 1890, the son of John and Alice Garbutt of 49 Power Street, Newport, Monmouthshire. Enlisting with 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment at Blackwood, Garbutt joined the war on 13 February 1915. Promoted Sergeant he was with his unit at the Second Battle of Ypres when the Regiment fought a Gallant last stand on 8 May 1915 under the command of Captain Harold Thorne Edwards.

When called upon to surrender Edwards responded with the words ‘Surrender be damned’ and was last seen firing into the advancing wave of attackers. Garbutt was part of Edwards command and was personally stationed by a communications trench by the Captain with orders to prevent anyone leaving without orders. Both Edwards and Garbutt were killed during the fighting. His four brothers were also killed during the war with one also being a member of the 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. Garbutt is commemorated upon the Menin Gate; sold together with copied research including census data, extracts from Regimental Histories and M.I.C.

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Sold for
£270

Starting price
£20