Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 383

'The bullet is still in his head, but Lieut, Royce is perfectly bright and cheerful, and, as he says "happy to be alive," although when he was picked up on the battlefield with a bullet hole in his forehead, he was given up for lost.
He will now have several weeks of rest and will continue under the care of the military doctors but it is understood that the bullet, which crashed into the skull and now lies beneath, it will be allowed to remain there. It may work itself out in years to come. He suffers little inconvenience from it; nothing more than a slight numbness.'

(The Spalding Guardian 7 May 1915, refers)

A remarkable officer's M.I.D. trio to Captain F. C. Royce, King's Own Scottish Borderers who was severely wounded at Gravenstafel on 23 April 1915, but went on to a further military career and eventually a post as District Officer of Nigeria

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. F. C. Royce. K. O. Sco. Bord.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oakleaves (Lieut. F. C. Royce.), minor contact wear and edge bruising, very fine (3)

Ferris Cleveland Royce was born at Donington, Lincolnshire, on 21 June 1895, the son of Emma and the Right Honourable William Royce, M.P. The young Royce was educated at Sleaford Grammar School and was still a young man when the Great War began in 1914. Immediately commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 15 August 1914 with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.

It is not recorded when he entered the war however Royce did join the 2nd Battalion at some stage in early 1915. There, when the Regiment took part in the Battle of Hill 60, Royce's first exploit was laid out in print. During the attack he 'led his men in a charge with a cane in his hand, but it was smashed into merely twisted bits of fibre' (Ibid). During the action 'D' & 'C' companies advanced to the attack with Royal West Kent Regiment while 'A' & 'B' companies formed reliefs.

The Battalion was still present in the Ypres Salient on 22 April when a sudden bombardment, combined with a gas attack, heralded the opening of the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Stationed behind the lines when the attack began the 2nd Battalion was quickly ordered to counter attack, crossing the Yser Canal on 23 April. The goal of the counter attack was to regain the village of Pilckem, lost the previous day.

Advancing under heavy machine gun and rifle fire they managed to relieve the Canadian troops holding the line. At this initial stage losses had already been disastrously high, however an attempt was made to take Mauser Ridge, 300 yards to the north, led by Captain Bland of 'C' Company. This proved impossible and by the end of the day only four junior subalterns were unharmed. Royce was not one of them, having been shot in the head during the fighting. Remarkably he survived although the bullet could not be removed and he was invalided back to Britain.

Apparently maintaining his sense of humour he allegedly attributed his wounding to the loss of his cane at Hill 60, claiming that losing his mascot cost him his luck. Advanced Lieutenant while recovering in 1915 he served in that role for most of the war. Seconded for duty with the Royal Engineers on 15 January 1918 he was further promoted Captain on 15 November 1918, although he remained seconded. Royce's work earned him a 'mention' at the end of the war (London Gazette 8 July 1919).

Returning to Pinchbeck after the war he later joined the Colonial Service, a role which led to his appointment as a District Officer in Nigeria. The role of a District Officer was one of magistrate and administrator, performing many of the important functions of government in sometimes extremely remote areas. Royce spent many years travelling between Nigeria and Britain, however appears to have retired by 1939, listed as 'Colonial Service (Rtd)'. He lived in Paddington, London, or at least kept a house there as he died at 32 Grange Hill Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, Warwickshire; sold together with a comprehensive folder of research including census data, newspaper articles, an extract from the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers history as well as information related to the recipient's father.

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

Sold for
£230

Starting price
£100