Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain G. N. Openshaw, Royal Lancaster Regiment

1914-15 Star (Capt. R. Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed, several faintly marked with an inked accession number (?); together with a mounted set of miniature dress medals, nearly extremely fine (10) £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Lancaster Regiment.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917.

Gerald Newbold Openshaw was educated at Bury Grammar School and was in the school O.T.C. Prior to the Great War he was a Farmer at Greenlands, Catterall, Garstang, Lancashire. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion Royal Lancaster Regiment on 10 September 1914, he was quickly advanced to Lieutenant and then Captain in December the same year. Sailing aboard the S.S. Queen, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war with the battalion on 17 July 1915. He was wounded by shrapnel in the left leg at La Boiselle (the Somme) on 7 July 1916 and was invalided to England and mentioned in despatches. He was then seriously wounded in action, leading ‘A’ Company in a raid at Bois Quarante, 5 June 1917, just prior to the battle of Messines. Was recommended for a D.S.O. but was not awarded. Because of his wound he was discharged and was awarded the Silver War Badge. Post-war he lived at Birkdale, Southport.

In W.W.2 he was listed as a Lieutenant in the National Defence Companies and with the Queen’s Regiment (T.A.). He is recorded as having been stationed in Plymouth at the time of their most devastating air raid during December 1940. He retired and was employed as an Assistant Officer in the Records Office, Anti-Aircraft Branch, Royal Regiment of Artillery from June 1941. Post-war he lived at Roehampton and was Secretary of the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club. He died on 5 January 1979.

With copied research.