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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 175

A Great War Group of Five to Private J.W. Crabb, Suffolk Regiment, Who Was Taken Prisoner of War, 26.8.1914, After the Suffolk´s Heroic Stand at Le Cateau Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, four clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (5732 Pte. J. Crabb. Suffolk Regt.); 1914 Star, with Bar (5732 Pte. J.W. Crabb. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (5732 Pte. J. Crabb. Suff. R.); Army Long Service & G.C., G.V.R. (5732 Pte. J.W. Crabb. Suff. R.), good very fine (5) Estimate £ 300-340 5732 Private James W. Crabb, born Littleport, Cambridgeshire, 1880; served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment on the Western Front from 15.8.1914; the battalion was part of the retreating force from Mons, and as part of the 14th Brigade was ordered to stand at Le Cateau on the 26th August 1914, as General Smith-Dorien later noted, ´´someone, certainly not I, ordered that on no account were the Suffolk´´s to retire. Such an order was enough for the Suffolk´´s. For nine hours they fought with desperate losses, their CO Lieut. Col. Brett being killed comparatively early in the day, but no thought of retirement entered their heads.... it is becoming more and more appreciated by the world, as facts become known and history of the war is studied that it was the blow to the Germans delivered on the field of Le Cateau which upset their advance on Paris. The Suffolks were one of the units which made that blow possible. I thank them and the whole Nation should be grateful to them..... it is not easy in a few words to express the depth of gratitude I feel to this gallant Regiment for their noble self sacrifice on that occasion"; Crabb was taken prisoner later that day, and when the roll call was taken on the 27th only 111 men out of an original strength of 998 answered, the others being either killed, missing or taken POW.

Sold for
£550