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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 588

Family group:

Pair: Lieutenant J. L. G. Kearton, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, who served with the American Army before the war and later died of wounds sustained during the recapture of Gouzeaucourt by the Guards Brigade

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. L. Kearton.), good very fine (2)

Four: Major A. N. M. Kearton, Reserve of Officers, late 64th (7th London) Royal Artillery Territorial Army, 2/108 Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was fortunate to avoid the fall of Kut and proceeded to serve throughout the Mesopotamian campaign, later to serve in the Second World War with the reserve of Officers

British and Victory (Capt. A. N. M. Kearton.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45 (Major A. N. M. Kearton.), unofficially engraved, mounted as worn, minor contact marks, overall very fine (4)

James Linton Graham Kearton was born at Hyde Park, London on 26 August 1889, the son of George and Harriett Kearton of 10 Evelyn Mansions, Fulham. Kearton seems to have had a somewhat wild streak, visiting the United States in 1909 he enlisted with the U.S. Army on 6 October, serving until 18 October 1912 when he was discharged. Farming prior to the outbreak of war Kearton enlisted with 2nd/14th (2nd London Scottish) Battalion, London Regiment he applied for a commission on 6 August 1915. Entering the war with the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards Kearton was wounded in the head on 22 June 1916 while serving with No. 2 Company at Ypres and was unable to get back to his unit until 9 August.

The Guards were Metz at Gouzeaucourt in December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai when they were ordered into the attack to retake Gouzeaucourt. Advancing on 1 December they moved forward with the support of several of the new tank Battalions. The tanks as was so often the case proved unreliable, forcing the infantry to attack with little support, in the face of heavy machine gun fire they did so, managing to take their objectives against terrible odds. Halted at the crucial moment one of the few tanks to have remained with them advanced alone down the German trenchline silencing their guns and allowing the Guards to advance once more. An extract form The Welsh Guards History states:

'Bowyer, with five bullets through him, managed to gasp out that he hoped everybody was not killed; and "Peggy" Kearton, walking between two men, replied with a smile, "Yes, I'm done for- right through the stomach!" And there were others.
The ghastly scene was made a field of triumphant heroism by the men and officers of the three attacking companies, and it is not detracting from the valour of the Prince of Wales's Company to say that their courage was uplifted by the gallant bearing of the shattered companies they passed through on their way up the hill.'

Kearton was taken to 21 Casualty Clearing station but as he himself surmised his wounds proved fatal. He died on 3 December 1917 and is buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetry, Manacourt; sold together with copied extracts from the Welsh Guards Regimental History and The Times as well as Commonwealth War Graves details, M.I.C. and Commission Documents

Arthur Noel Malcom Kearton was born in 1895, the son of the son of George and Harriett Kearton of 10 Evelyn Mansions, Fulham. Serving as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Garrison Artillery he was promoted Acting Captain on 26 April 1915. Entering the war on 4 July 1916 with 2/104 Heavy Battery, in Mesopotamia. He was lucky to arrive after the fall of Kut on 29 April when elements of 104 Heavy Battery were taken prisoner. After the war he remained with the Reserves, being promoted Captain Territorial Army Reserve of Officers, Royal Artillery on 24 April 1935 and Honorary Major on 9 September. Kearton died at University College Hospital, St. Pancras, London on 22 December 1965; sold together with copied research including census data, M.I.C. and handwritten research as well as General notes on 13th (Western) Division and London Gazette extracts.

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