Three: Trumpeter S. Maybank, 7th Dragoon Guards

1914 Star (1468 Tptr., 7/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (D-1468 Pte., 7-D. Gds.), in original card boxes of issue, extremely fine (3) £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to Trumpeters from the Collection of Roderick Cassidy.

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Sidney Maybank, a native of Stepney, London, was killed in action on 8 August 1918, when the 7th Dragoon Guards made a gallant mounted attack a mile or two north of Boves, France. The regimental history states:

‘In August a new offensive was opened. The Brigade’s objective was to be the old Amiens defensive line ... At 9.15 p.m. the Brigade marched through Amiens to their position of assembly, two and a half miles north of Boves, and by 4 a.m. on 8th August the Regiment was saddled up ready to move forward. The ground to be crossed consisted of a succession of deep valleys divided by steep ridges with narrow crests which were in view of the enemy and under heavy artillery and heavy machine-gun fire. The Regiment advanced ... Both squadrons occupied their first objective, one capturing 1 officer, 24 men, 2 heavy guns and 4 machine guns, and the other 14 prisoners, 6 machine guns, an abandoned battery, and large quantities of equipment. The action of ‘A’ squadron forced a large number of Germans to retire across the open, and the Colonel ordered the regimental scouts to charge, closely supported by a troop of ‘C’ Squadron (Captain Shrubb). By noon the first objective had been taken. The 17th Lancers and Inniskillings, supported by the Regiment, then advanced to the second objective. During the engagement on 8th August, 10 officers and 32 men were wounded, including Major Chappell and Captain Friend, and 4 men [among them Maybank] and 29 horses were killed. The Regiment was awarded two D.S.Os, two M.C.s, one D.C.M. and twelve M.Ms for their part in this highly successful mounted attack.’

Maybank, who was one of approximately 100 men of the 7th Dragoon Guards to be killed in the Great War, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.