Orders, Decorations and Medals

An exceptional Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain R. H. Hyde-Sander, Leinster Regiment, formerly West Yorkshire Regiment, for his gallantry at Ledeghem, where the Battalion gained two Victoria Cross’s

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., W. York. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) generally good very fine (4) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Michael McGoona Collection to the Leinster Regiment.

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M.C. London Gazette 4 October 1919 ‘For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Though suffering from a previous wound he led his company to the attack near Ledeghem on the 14th October 1918, with conspicuous success, and by fine leadership reached his objective, taking on the way many machine guns and prisoners. While collecting and reorganising the men of his own and other units who were lost in the fog, he was severely wounded by a bullet in the thigh.’

The capture of Ledeghem is described in the regimental history thus ‘The attack, despite the appalling fog, which descended upon the operations, was a brilliant success, the 2nd Battalion alone capturing 14 officers and 249 other ranks, 11 field guns and 60 odd machine guns. It was on this occasion that Sergeant O’Neill and Private martin Moffatt so distinguished themselves, the latter’s feat, in single handed forcing a house held by the enemy to surrender, after having dashed at the back door through a hail of bullets from rifles and machine guns, is known to the world, as he received the Victoria Cross as his reward a few weeks later.....Sergeant O’Neill received his Victoria Cross for reckless gallantry on the same occasion, together with a repetition as few days later.’

Captain Reginald Horace Hyde-Sander, M.C. served in Gallipoli August 1915 to January 1916, France and Belgium March to September 1916 and 14 March 1918 to 14 October 1918, where he was wounded twice.