Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 91

A Battalion CO's group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. H. Openshaw, Somerset Light Infantry, present at the Relief of Kut who later died of heatstroke while on active service on 23 July 1917

1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. E. H. Openshaw); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. E. H. Openshaw.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., with pin removed for mounting, the Star sometime gilded, very fine (4)

T.D. London Gazette 10 September 1915.

Edward Hyde Openshaw was born at Cheddar, Somerset on 5 December 1867, the son of Reverend William and Edith Openshaw of 47 Oakfield Road, Clifton. Attending Bristol Grammar School - where his father taught Mathematics- he moved on to Bristol Medical School and qualified as a Doctor. The same year he was commissioned into the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry on 2 January 1895. Working as House Surgeon at Bristol Eye Hospital Openshaw was promoted to Lieutenant 15 July 1896.

Progressing both in the Volunters and also professionally he opened a local practice at Cheddar alongside a Doctor Statham and was advanced Captain on 13 July 1901. A dedicated Freemason Openshaw was appointed Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Agriculture in 1905, being promoted the Major that year on 27 May 1905. His final advancement was to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 January 1907, a rank he was still serving in on the outbreak of the Great War.

Still serving with the same unit he had joined twenty years earlier, Openshaw had seen it evolve from a Volunteer unit to a Territorial Battalion. Posted to India on 9 October 1914 as Second-in-Command of the 1/4th (Territorial) Battalion, he remained with them when they transferred to Mesopotamia on 21 February 1916.

Invalided to India on 16 June 1917, Openshaw re-joined the Battalion on 30 December 1916. This was to prove a mistake as he died from a heart attack as a result of heatstroke on 23 July 1917 at the 83 Combined Stationary Hospital, Nasariyeh, Mesopotamia.

Openshaw's obituary appeared in the The Bristol Observer, 28 July 1917, which states:

The death has occured in hospital in India (sic), where he was serving, of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Hyde Openshaw, of the Somerset Light infantry. The sad news will be heard with especial sorrow in the Cheddar Valey, where deceased was so well known and respected.

He was in medical practice at Cheddar with Doctor Staham (now also on Military Service) and became an officer of the local company of the old 3rd Battalion Somerset Volunteers. When the Territorial regime came in he continued in the 4th Somersets and rose to 2nd in command of the Regiment. He was given the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and went to India in October 1914 as major and 2nd in Command of the 1/4th. Deceased was a prominent Freemason, was W.M. of Agriculture Lodge in 1903 and held the provincial rank of Junior Grand Warden of Somerset. An enthusiastic Rugby footballer in his early days, Dr.Openshaw continued to take much interest in the game after he retired from active participation in it and for several years was on the Somerset Rugby Union Committee, while his professional knowledge made him an especially valuable secretary and treasurer of the County Insurance Fund.

Deceased's son, Lieutenant Openshaw, of the Somersets, recently transferred into the Royal Flying Corps. Colonel Openshaw was a student of Bristol Medical School and took his degee as M.R.C.S. in 1890. For some time he was house surgeon of the Bristol Eye Hospital. Dr.Openshaw was the son of the late Rev. T. W. Openshaw, formerly Mathematical Master at Bristol Grammar School.

CHEDDAR
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E. H. OPENSHAW

Lieutenant-Colonel E.H.Openshaw, T.D., whose death was announced last week, was the eldest son of the Rev. T. W. Openshaw, for many years one of the assistant masters at the Bristol Grammar school. He married the only child of Mr. Harry Fussell, of Bristol, and granddaughter of Mr James T. Fussell, also a resident. The deceased officer leaves a widow and one son, who was in the Somerset L.I., but has since transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Lieutenant-Colonel Openshaw was in the force that went to the relief of Kut. His death was due to the effects of a heat wave in India.

Mrs Openshaw received a confirmatory cablegram on Thursday afternoon. Dr. E.H. Openshaw was, on the outbreak of war, in camp on Salisbury Plain when he and the whole Company of Territorials which he commanded volunteered for service. They went to India for training, and later to Mesopotamia. Colonel Openshaw had lived in Cheddar for over 20 years, and was well known throughout the county as a most successful surgeon and clever practitioner.

A memorial service in commemoration of the late Colonel and other Cheddar men who have fallen in the war was held on Monday. The Fitzwalter Chapel was occupied by the Chairman and members of the Parish Council and the local Oddfellows and members of the V.T.C. were also present. The widow was accompanied by her son, Mr. E. Openshaw (Lieut.), and many officer friends of the late Colonel Openshaw also paid tribute at the service.'

He is buried in the Basra War Cemetery and his Medals were sent to his widow Mrs Edith M. Openshaw of Cheddar, Somerset; sold together with copied research.

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

Sold for
£600

Starting price
£400