A fine Great War 1918 ‘Battle of the River Selle’ M.C. group of four awarded to Acting Captain A. H. Ormesher, York and Lancaster Regiment, who had previously been severely wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, necessitating at least seven operations before he was able to return to action

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lieut: A. H. Ormesher. York: & Lanc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. H. Ormesher.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

M.C. London Gazette 10 December 1919:
‘On 20th October 1918, in front of Solesmes, he led his company across the River Selle under close enemy machine-gun fire. Owing to the thick hedges and wire entanglements, his company began to get somewhat disorganised, but he rallied his men and led them forward to Solesmes under heavy fire He captured his objective after heavy fighting in the streets. His courage and initiative enabled a large part of Solesmes to be successfully captured, and many enemy killed and taken prisoners.’

Arthur Harrison Ormesher was born in Dronfield, Derbyshire, in September 1886, the son of the Reverend Joseph Ormesher, and attested for the York and Lancaster Regiment at Sheffield on 11 September 1914, having previously served in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. He was commissioned temporary Second Lieutenant in the York and Lancaster Regiment on 9 December 1914, and was promoted Lieutenant on 27 August 1915. He served with the 9th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from the date of his Lieutenancy, and was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme at Authvile Wood, near Albert, on 1 July 1916, suffering a gun shot wound which led to a double compound fracture of the left leg; a flesh wound to the right knee; and three scalp wounds on the forehead, injuries that required at least seven operations, and left him unable to walk for almost a year. The Battalion War diary for 1 July 1916 notes that almost half of the Battalion’s attacking force was lost in No Man’s Land by machine gun fire from Thiepval spur, and that out of 25 officers and 736 other ranks just 180 returned. He relinquished his commission on account of his wounds on 16 February 1918.

The following month Ormesher had made a sufficient recovery, and he was re-commissioned into his old Regiment. He returned to the Western Front on attachment to the 2/4th Battalion, Territorial Force, in September 1918, and was advanced acting Captain. He was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry at Solesmes during the Battle of the River Selle on 20 October 1918, when his courage and initiative enabled a large part of the village to be successfully captured, and also led to the capture of two officers and 96 other ranks. By his courageous action the important bridge over the River Dendre was saved from destruction just before the Armistice commenced. He finally relinquished his commission on 16 April 1919, and was granted the rank of Lieutenant.

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