A Queen’s Mediterranean Medal awarded to Colonel E. B. G. “Byng” Gregge-Hopwood, D.S.O., who was killed in action commanding the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards in July 1917

Queen’s Mediterranean 1899-1902 (Lieut. E. B. G. Gregge Hopwood, L.N. Lanc. Regt.), edge bruising, nearly very fine
£500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Edward Byng George Gregge-Hopwood was born in December 1880, the son and heir of Colonel Edward Gregge-Hopwood of Hopwood Hall, Middleton, Lancashire, and was educated at Eton. Joining the Militia in 1898, he served on garrison duty with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at the time of the Boer War and afterwards gained a commission in the Coldstream Guards.

First embarked for France as a Captain in the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards in August 1914, he was present in the retreat from Mons and all of the Battalion’s actions up until being dangerously wounded at Givenchy in March 1915. He was awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 23 June 1915 refers), which insignia he received from the King at Buckingham Palace in the following month.

Having then returned to active service in July 1915, and again been wounded, he was given the Brevet of Major for distinguished service in the Field in June 1916 and, as an Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, was appointed to the command of the 1st Battalion at the end of the same year. As related in the unit’s war diary, however, he was killed in action near Boesinghe on 20 July 1917:

‘One of those terrible bits of news has just come in: Byng Hopwood and Stephen Burton killed in the line this afternoon. This is the fourth Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream to be killed in action. Byng was a wonder and I don’t think I know of a finer soldier in the army. He had a tremendous hold of the men ... We buried Byng and Stephen in the cemetery at Canada Farm next to the Field Ambulance. Their bodies were brought down in the night. It was a very simple and impressive service. Tail and Sekker read the service and the Drummers of the Battalion sounded the Last Post.’

Gregge-Hopwood was also thrice mentioned in despatches.