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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 283

A superb 'Battle of Aubers Ridge' D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private A. T. Windebank, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, for his conspicuous gallantry as 'Company Runner' between 9-10 May 1915, during the initial attack on the German defences near Fromelles

When the survivors of his Company became cut-off from all support, Windebank carried an important message between the isolated trench and Brigade Report Centre, being exposed to withering rifle, machine-gun and artillery fire for the entire journey

Returning later under the same fire, 'he was of the greatest assistance in mounting a captured machine-gun' which 'contributed powerfully' in repulsing a determined enemy counter attack; he was discharged on 31 January 1917 as a result of wounds received in action

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (4895 Pte A. T. Windebank, 2/Rif: Bde:); 1914 Star, Bar (4895 Pte. A. Windebank. 2/Rif: Brig); British War and Victory Medals (4895 Pte. A. T. Windebank. Rif. Brig.), contact wear and polishing, very fine (4)

D.C.M., London Gazette 5 August 1915:

'For conspicuous gallantry and resource on 9th-10th May, 1915, near Rouges Bancs. He carried the first message back from the Battalion to the Brigade Report Centre under a heavy rifle and machine gun fire, returning later under the same fire. He was of the greatest assistance in helping to mount a captured machine gun and in collecting bombs in the German trenches for use against the enemy.'

Archibald Thomas Windebank (Archie) was born at Havant, Hampshire in 1893, the son of George and Emily (nee Wyatt) Windebank. Recorded in the 1901 Census, aged 7 years, residing at 20 Homewell, Havant, his father's occupation was listed as 'Flesher Fishmonger'. An adult when he was recorded in the 1911 Census, aged 18, where his own occupation is given as 'Splitter Boy'.

Windebank attested for service in the Rifle Brigade at Winchester, on 6 November 1912, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion which at that time was on overseas garrison duty in India. On the outbreak of war, the Battalion was stationed at Kuldana, India, and sailed for England from Bombay on 20 September 1914, arriving at Liverpool on 22 October. It then entrained for Hursley Park, Winchester where it was assigned to the newly formed 25th Infantry Brigade, 8th Division, and sailed for Le Havre on 5 November 1914, where it disembarked the following day. Windebank is confirmed as having entered the France and Flanders theatre of war with 'C' Company on 7 November 1914.

The Battalion came into line in the Rue du Bois-Farquissart Sector, SW of Armentieres, on 14 November 1914, and over the next three months experienced the arduous trench fighting that epitomised the Winter Operations of 1914-15. It was heavily engaged in the Battle of Neuve Chappele, between 10-13 March 1915, losing over 375 all ranks, killed, wounded and missing during three days of 'squandered heroism'.

Windebank was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his conspicuous gallantry as 'Company Runner', at Rouges Bancs on the 9-10 May 1915, when he carried the first message from the Battalion to the Brigade Report Centre under a heavy rifle and machine gun fire, returning later under the same fire. He was also noted when helping to mount a captured machine gun and collecting bombs in the German trenches. During this action, the 2nd Battalion suffered total casualties of seventy-seven killed, 340 wounded, and 212 missing. The award of the D.C.M. was announced in the London Gazette dated 5 August 1915.

As part of First Army's attempt to capture the Aubers Ridge on the 9 of May 1915, the 8th Division occupied a frontage of 1400 yards, astride the Sailly-Fromelles Road. The plan was for the 24th and 25th Infantry Brigades to combine in three separate but co-ordinated attacks, the main thrust to be delivered on a three battalion front astride the Sailly - Fromelles Road. The 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, 24th Brigade, would operate West of the road, and the 2nd Rifle Brigade, and 1st Royal Irish Rifles, 25th Brigade to the East of it. The target for the 25th Brigade was to breach the German defences in the neighbourhood of Rouges Bancs, capture Fromelles on the left and the Delaval Farm-Aubers Road on the right, and secure their exposed flanks. The 7th Division would then advance through the breach and 'roll up' the enemy line to the east and west.

The 25th Brigade orders for the left attack were that the 2nd Rifle Brigade and the 1st Royal Irish Rifles, should attack simultaneously on a 200 yard front through a gap that would be blown in the German defences by the preliminary artillery bombardment. The Brigade was then to push on to secure its first objective, the bend in the Delaval Farm-Aubers Road.

The success of the offensive depended totally on the capacity of the British artillery to break down the German defences at key locations and prepare the way for the breach, but the number of our guns proved totally inadequate. Indeed, such was the shortage of artillery that brass mortars dating from 1840 were pressed into service in this bombardment. The inadequacy of the artillery preparation and support, and its failure to either destroy the enemy's defences or to subdue the fire of its infantry was to decide the fate of the entire operation.

The bombardment began at 05:00, but almost immediately, shells began falling short, causing severe casualties in the advanced sap where 'B' and 'D' Companies, 2nd Rifle Brigade were assembled to lead the attack. At 05.20, 'B' and 'D' Companies swept across the 100 yards of no-mans-land at a rapid pace in lines of platoons at thirty paces distance. In spite of heavy losses, the leading companies stormed the German breastwork, though it was practically undamaged, and, after capturing a number of the 16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment, pressed on to their first objective, the bend of the Fromelles road, two hundred yards beyond.

The supporting companies, 'A' and 'C' (Windebank's) Companies, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Stephens then followed to occupy and consolidate the breached German fire trench. However, the German garrisons on both flanks of the breach, were well dug in and not affected by the bombardment. They had realized that their own front was not seriously threatened, and had therefore turned their whole attention to containing those troops who had broken through to form lodgements, and to preventing reinforcements from reaching them. Consequently, 'A' and 'C' Companies suffered heavy losses, and the battalion machine-gun section, were unable to get across.

Having reached their objective and consolidated 200 yards of the Delaval Farm-Aubers Road, 'B' and 'D' Companies found themselves isolated, except for a small party of the Royal Irish Rifles to their left, who had also succeeded in penetrating the German position. The attacks to their right and left having failed, these forward companies set about consolidating their position. However, deprived of the supports they so badly needed, and subjected to very heavy machine-gun fire from both flanks and in reverse from those enemy trenches that remained intact, the defenders suffered heavy casualties.

Similarly, the survivors of 'A' and 'C' Companies which had succeeded in consolidating the 250 yards of the breached fire trench, which lay astride the Rouges Bancs-Sailly Road, also found themselves isolated. Bombing parties were organised to protect both ends of the trench, and although it proved extremely difficult to find bombs and bombers, about 50 yards of trench to the west of the road were gained.

The British front and communication trenches were blocked with dead, wounded and leaderless men, the congestion being constantly increased by the endeavours of the rearmost waves to reach the front. Movement forward, rearward or lateral became impossible, except over the open, and the Germans in the un-attacked portions of the front were able to prevent not only substantial support, but even individuals from crossing no-mans-land. It was clear that the men who had formed the lodgements were cut off.

It would have been during this critical period, that Windebank delivered his message to the Brigade Report Centre, returning to his beleaguered comrades with news that help was on its way. Throughout both journeys across no-mans-land, Windebank would have been exposed to the same withering rifle and machine-gun fire that had decimated the earlier attacking force, which rendered any reinforcement impracticable.

All officers in the forward 'B' and 'D' Companies had become casualties by 08.00. The survivors of these two companies were in a veritable death trap, being subjected to heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from both flanks and rear. One by one, the men began to fall back from the road to the captured rifle trench held by 'A' and 'C' Companies. These welcome reinforcements enabled the defenders to more securely consolidate the trench, and to more easily repel the bombing attacks from the flanks.

About noon, a reinforcing party of 50 men, led by 2nd Lieutenant W. E. Gray, the Battalion machine-gun officer, attempted to reach this trench, but his party also lost heavily crossing the open ground, and only 20 men survived the journey. 2nd Lieutenant Gray, and his small party were, nevertheless, a welcome addition to Lieutenant-Colonel Stephens's defences. Assisted by Windebank, Grey succeeded in repairing, mounting and working a captured enemy machine-gun. It was due mainly to this machine-gun, six hours later, at 19.50, that a determined enemy counter-attack was beaten off.

A detachment of 70 men, all that remained from the 2nd Rifle Brigade, at 20.30, together with two machine-guns, and two bombing parties from the Royal Berkshire Regiment, under the command of Captain C. J. Newport, Royal Irish Rifles, succeeded in reinforcing the captured trench further. This was as many men as the trench could hold.

The end for this gallant garrison came at 02.30, when the enemy made a determined frontal infantry attack, supported by heavy bombing attacks from both flanks. This frontal attack was met with machine-gun and rifle fire, and the enemy were brought to a standstill with heavy loss. Eventually, however, the defenders ran out of bombs, the blocks at either end of the trench were carried by the enemy and both flanks were driven in.

A fierce hand-to-hand struggle then raged throughout the trench, and at about 03.00, sixteen hours after storming the trench, the few remaining remnants of the Battalion escaped and made their way back to the British lines. The last fifty survivors in the trench were overpowered and taken prisoner, thirty wounded were picked up the next day by the enemy, but the remainder of the garrison had been killed.

The total casualties suffered by the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, in this engagement were 77 killed, 340 wounded and 212 missing. The divisional losses for the attack were calculated at 458 officers and 11,161 other ranks, killed, wounded and missing.

Windebank was discharged the service at Winchester on the 31 January 1917, as a result of wounds received in action, his discharge being granted in accordance with Paragraph 392(xvi), King's Regulations, 'being no longer fit for war service'. He was awarded the Silver War Badge No 24361, which was issued on 14 February 1917.

Following his discharge, Windebank secured employment as a 'Groom', and married Ethel (Betty) Bodle, at St Faith's Church, Havant on 2 May 1917. He died at St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth on the 1 April 1963, aged 69 years.


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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£800