Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 111

(x) A 'Vaux Andigny 1918’ M.C. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. Hendin, Pioneer Corps, late East Kent Regiment and Royal Engineers, who later commanded a 'Force X' Company on the retreat to Dunkirk

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse engraved ‘1st Buffs, 2nd Lieut. D. W. Hendin, Vaux Andigny Oct. 17th 1918’; 1914-15 Star (22837 Spr: D. W. Hendin. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. D. W. Hendin.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; France, Croix de Guerre, reverse dated '1914-1915', bronze Palme upon riband, contact marks, a little polished, very fine (11)

M.C. London Gazette 4 October 1919, the original citation states:

‘2nd Lt., 1st Bn. East Kent R.’ ‘In the attack near Vaux Andigny on 17th October, 1918, he showed great courage and dash. His platoon being held up by barbed wire he went forward under heavy machine-gun fire and cut the wire, thus enabling his men to go forward. On the objective being taken he went out with a patrol under heavy fire and brought back valuable information’

M.I.D. London Gazette 13 January 1944.

Douglas Welsh Hendin was born in Southampton on 30 June 1891, the son of Henry and Bessie Hendin of Bournemouth, Dorset. Educated at Ashford Grammar School he joined the Territorial Army in March 1909, later appearing on the 1911 census as an 'Apprentice to an Architect Surveyor'. The outbreak of the Great War put paid to any thoughts of a civil profession however as Hendin enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, later being advanced Corporal Class II. Entering the war in France on 30 April 1915 he served there until 28 November 1917 when he was accepted for a commission.

Seeing further action with this unit he was with the 1st Battalion during the Hundred Days Offensive. This unit went into the attack to the North-West of Vaux Andigny on 17 October 1918, attacking under a heavy fog. Perhaps due to this casualties for the operation were lower than expected with three 2nd Lieutenants dead and 52 other ranks killed, wounded or missing.

With the end of the war in Europe Hendin remained with the military, being seconded for service with the West African Frontier Force on 8 October 1919. Transferring to the Reserve of Officers in 1928 he took up work for the war office, being appointed Lands Draughtsman in the Office of the War Department Land Agent, Southern Command. On the outbreak of the Second World War Hendin was returned to service with the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps with the rank of Lieutenant in October 1939.

Quickly promoted to Major he was placed in command of 60 Company, part of Force X- intended to extend the Maginot Line further to the north. 60 Company had been intended to operate independently but found itself Operating as part of 2 Corps and integrated into No. 11 Group during the retreat to Dunkirk. After escaping to Britain they worked on the coastal defences and clearing debris in London for much of 1940.

Hendin was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and posted to North Africa as Commander of No. 61 (Sudanese) Group, arriving in the Sudan with them on 23 June 1941. Joining them on their move from the Sudan to Sicily on 13 July 1943 they spent the rest of the year serving both their and in Southern Italy. Hendin relinquished command at his own request on 11 October 1943, although he continued to serve as Lieutenant-Colonel. Finally retiring in October 1945 he died in Folkestone, Kent on 18 November 1965; sold together with copied paperwork including census data, London Gazette extracts and war diaries as well as photographs, an M.I.C. and a typed biography relating to Ashford Grammar School.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£600