Auction Catalogue

19 & 20 March 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 751

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20 March 2008

Hammer Price:
£390

War Diary, a note book, 200 x 166mm. (approx.), handwritten in ink, the day by day recollections of Lieutenant B. Marden, 9th Lancers, for the period, 15 August 1914-1 May 1915, spine worn and repaired, covers worn, contents in good condition £200-300

Basil Jock Newton Marden was born on 17 February 1893. Commissioned into the 9th Lancers on 4 September 1912, he was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant on 15 November 1914 and attained the rank of Captain on 26 October 1915. With the 9th Lancers aboard the Welshman, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 16 August 1914. In action at Mons, Marne and Aisne; he received a wound to the head in the action at Paissy, 20 September. Recovering, he returned to the 9th Lancers based near Wulverghem on 30 October. In action at Ypres, he was shot, receiving a bullet wound to the head, 19 November. Invalided to England on 22 November, he recovered but remained in England for the rest of the war, latterly on attachment to the 7th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry. The twice wounded recipient is mentioned three times in the regimental history - The Ninth Queen’s Royal Lancers 1715-1936, by Major E. W. Sheppard. The diary, written some time after the events described, provides a lively account of a young cavalry officer during the early months of the war, describing his troop movements, fellow officers, casualties, recreation, food, war rumours etc.

‘Introduction. This book is intended to be the account of the personal adventures, ideas and feelings of a lieutenant of the 9th Lancers ....’

‘Aug. 15. At last we are off ... arrive Southampton at 2.30p.m. and amuse ourselves as best we can on the dock until the following morning. Pater, who is R.T.O. at Southampton spends the afternoon with me on the dock’.

‘Aug. 24. In the early morning, we are attacked by apparently several divisions ...’

‘Sept. 20. Turn out at 4.30 & rush off to Paissy to help the “feet” - move round sky-line to draw gun-fire away from heroes’ who are about to bolt - good mark to the General - rather skilfully done - only one horse hit. Sent off with eight men as intercommunication between English right and French left .... am shown remains of last intercommunication patrol (R.H. Gds) officer killed - 3 horses - 4 men! This, I suppose, is to cheer me up! .... The run forwards was the most dangerous show as everyone fired as they ran, in any direction. Once there I fired at a few easy “masses” until a silly fool hit me in the head. I tied it up with a tommy’s handkerchief ...’

‘Nov. 5. Rearrange squadron & pay men - offer of armoured car rejected. ... We wander around about digging trenches etc & being sniped at & finally at dawn sleep in a farm; that is, we just collapse on the ground! Some French batteries make an infernal row in the yard - but I am soon asleep!’

‘Nov. 18. Shelled lightly today - in the evening “C” Squadron relievs the 4 D.G. in the Chau. (Chateau) stables. I didn’t expect this - a nasty dangerous place - the Chau. itself was destroyed yesterday by a minewerfer - on entering stables thro’ shell-hole we fall over what we imagine to be sacks of potatoes - they are corpses really - 120 dead Germans and over a week old - they provide some good souvenirs. The attached plan shows my dispositions [map attached] ...In the trench on the right the R.E. hurled out coils of loose barbed wire and we had an abattis made of trees ...’

‘Nov. 19. The enemy became v. active with hand-grenades - one nearly gets me - & badly wounds 2 men, whom I had placed in the top front room. I fire 8 pistol shots “rapid” at the sight of a match, struck to light one. No corpse there next day, tho’ the match goes out. When these grenades get bad, I send for another troop from Alan (Graham) & keep them in room with fixed bayonets for 2 hours sitting on dead Huns! When dawn arrives I post snipers at each hole - and we bag 10 to 15 Germans - I personally get 3 - my first separate & sure bag of the war! Alan comes on & in despite of my telling him that the front window was dangerous, we go & peep thro’ an iron loop-hole we had hoisted there. Then we both get hit by one bullet in the head ... “Lord I’m hit”. “So am I!” And off we crawl downstairs on hands and knees, pouring with blood. I feel dizzy & cannot do much good - so we send back for some 4 D.G. officers to relieve us ...’