Family Group:

Three: Private A. Maxwell, 9th (The Queen’s Royal) Lancers, who was killed in action during the Retreat from Mons on 30 August 1914
1914 Star, with clasp (3921 Pte. A. Maxwell. 9/Lrs.) ; British War and Victory Medals (L-3921 Pte. A. Maxwell. 9-Lrs.) nearly extremely fine

Three: Private W. Maxwell, 9th (The Queen’s Royal) Lancers, who was wounded by shell-fire near Ypres on 9 May 1915 and died of wounds at Hazebrouck, Flanders, on 11 May 1915
1914 Star, with clasp (4492 Pte. W. Maxwell. 9/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals (L-4492 Pte. W. Maxwell. 9-Lrs.) nearly extremely fine

Pair: Warrant Officer Class II G. E. Maxwell, Lincolnshire Regiment, late Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
British War and Victory Medals (45489 W.O. Cl. 2 G. E. Maxwell. Linc. R.) good very fine (8) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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Arthur Maxwell was born in 1894 at Meanwood, Leeds, Yorkshire and attested for the 9th Lancers in 1912. He served with ‘A’ Squadron during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914 and was present with them at the time of their Charge at Audregnies on 24 August.

Private A. Maxwell was killed in action on 30 August 1914. On this date, the 9th Lancers were at the the River Oise near Sempigny, France, providing cover for bridge demolition parties of the Royal Engineers:
‘30 August 1914 - Under Fire, 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers report “Bridges ready for demolition...during the demolition of the last bridge, a stone one over the river, Lt. Gourlay and party were fired on by Uhlans when at first they were on the far bank but subsequently crossed into Sempigny. The 9th Lancers were providing the covering party but did not detect the approaches of the enemy. The demolition party escaped on bikes and on 9th Lancers horses but two men were found missing. (believed dead as they were wounded)’ (extracted from report by Spr. J. E. Daniels in War Diary of 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers)

He was the son of George Ernest and Margaret Maxwell of 9 Stainbeck Rd., Meanwood, Leeds and is buried in Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, France.

William Maxwell, older brother of the above, was born in 1892 at Meanwood, Leeds and attested for the 9th Lancers at Leeeds in 1913. He served with ‘B’ Squadron during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 August 1914 and was present with them at the time of their Charge at Audregnies on 24 August.

Private W. Maxwell was wounded on 9 May 1915 and died of wounds at Hazebrouck, Flanders, on 11 May 1915. On 9 May 1915 the 9th Lancers were heavily shelled on a march from Berthen to Vlammertinghe where they then occupied trenches in the Ypres Salient in the GHQ Line from from Potyze to Menin Road. The War Diary records 6 other ranks wounded on the march.

George Ernest Maxwell, father of both of the above, was born in 1866 at Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire. He enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment in October 1884 and served over 12 years, of which 6 years - 1886 to 1892 - were in India. Discharged in 1896, he re-enlisted in the Royal Northern Reserve in 1900 and in January 1902 he attested for the Royal Garrison Regiment and was stationed in Nova Scotia from September 1902 to November 1905. He was promoted Sergeant in 1903 and Colour Sergeant in 1904 and transferred back to the West Yorkshire Regiment in the same rank in December 1905, serving until September 1907 at which time his time expired following the completion of 14 years colour service with the regiment.

He served during the Great War from 5 October 1914 as Colour Sergeant in the 8th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and was appointed Company Sergeant Major on 30 January 1915. He transferred to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment in March 1917 and embarked for France in April, transferring to the Labour Corps in May 1917. Colour Sergeant Maxwell was discharged in March 1919.


Sold together with the following ephemera and paperwork:

Relating to Arthur Maxwell: studio portrait photograph in uniform; Soldiers’ Small Book with War Office forwarding letter for same; Army Form B 104-82; Army Form B 104-45 and Army Form 47 to Colour Sergeant G. E. Maxwell regarding recipient’s effects; Buckingham Palace enclosure for Memorial Plaque; newspaper cutting.

Relating to William Maxwell: portrait photograph in uniform (poor condition); Field Service Postcard sent to recipient’s father, dated 29 January 1915; Army form B. 104-45 (wounded in action notification); War Office Effects Form - No. 45; Army Form 104-81 from Cavalry Record Office (wounded in action notification).