Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine ‘last stand’ retrospective ‘Battle of Hazebrouk’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant T. R. Palethorpe, Grenadier Guards, for his conspicuous gallantry at Vieux-Berquin on 12-13 April 1918, when his battalion fought to a finish and ceased to exist as a fighting unit, only 20 men from his company surviving the action, all of whom, including Palethorpe, were taken prisoners of war. It was during this action that Captain T. T. Pryce was afterwards awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7395 Sjt: T. R. Palethorpe. 4/ G. Gds:); 1914-15 Star (7395 Sjt. T. R. Palethorpe. G. Gds:); British War and Victory Medals (7395 Sjt. T. Palethrope [sic]. G. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7395 Sjt: T. R. Palethorpe. G. Gds:) light pitting from Star, very fine (5) £1800-2200

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 January 1920:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Field, which have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919.’

Thomas Richard Palethorpe was born into the Grenadier Guards, at Farnham, near Aldershot, on 29 April 1884, the son of Private Thomas Palethorpe, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, Palethorpe followed his father's example and attested for service with the Grenadier Guards as a boy entrant on 23 April 1898, enlisting for 12 years’ service with the Colours. On enlistment, he declared his age to be 14 years, and stated his trade as 'Tailor'. Initially posted to his father's parent battalion, the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, he transferred to the 1st Battalion on 13 October 1898, rejoining the 3rd Battalion on 1 December 1902. Re-engaging to complete 21 years' Service on 22 December 1909, he was appointed Lance Corporal in October 1911, and promoted Corporal in June 1913.

On the outbreak of war, the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards was quartered at Wellington Barracks, and remained on the home establishment until 26 July 1915, when it embarked aboard the S.S. Queen Alexandra at Southampton. Arriving at Le Havre the following morning, it immediately entrained for Esquerdes, where the newly formed Guards Division was being assembled, the battalion having been assigned to the 2nd Brigade. Palethorpe is confirmed as having entered the French theatre of war, probably as part of a later draft, on 15 August 1915, being appointed Lance Sergeant shortly afterwards, on 24 August, and promoted Sergeant on 13 January 1916. He received a gunshot wound to his right hand on 25 September 1916. Admitted to No 15 Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouk, he was evacuated to the UK on 1 October 1916, and posted to the 5th (Reserve Battalion) whilst recovering from his wounds. Awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by authority of Army Order 125 dated 1 April 1917, he returned to France on 4 February 1918, having been transferred to the Guards' Division Base Depôt, at Harfleur, where he was posted to the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards, joining them 'in the field' on 10 February 1918, and being assigned to No 3 Company.

On 9 April 1918, in the aftermath of the German Spring Offensive, the enemy forces opened a concentrated attack, in great force, against the British/Portuguese front line between Armentieres and La Bassee. Breaking through the Portuguese sector, the enemy rolled forward towards the channel ports. The British XV Corps was driven back to a line between Vieux Berquin and a point west of Merville. Such was the position on 12 April 1918, when the 4th Guards Brigade was ordered forward to restore the ground lost and make contact with the 29th Division last reported in the vicinity of Vieux Berquin. The Battalion War Diary provides several detailed accounts of the action, including the following description of No 3 Company, as follows: “No. 3 Coy was in reserve, with its Right 300 yards N.E. of Gombert Farm and its Left on the road Verte Rue – La Couronne. The Coy throughout the day, several times without orders and on the initiative of its officers, restored the situation on the Left of No. 2 Coy, owing to the troops on their Left, the KOYLI, retiring and leaving an exposed flank. Lieut. Nash, the Coy Commander, had his hand shot off by a direct hit from a whiz-bang at 1030 hours, the command of the Coy then falling upon Lieut. Thomas and 2/Lieut. Cox who, with Sergeant Palethorpe and two platoons, from 1230 hours until 1800 hours continually, by counter attack and by fire, helped the Left of No. 2 Coy. The initiative shown by the above was beyond praise. A great many Germans were killed. The line was readjusted during the night of the 12th and No. 3 Coy came up into the front line…”

For his conspicuous gallantry during this action, Palethorpe was retrospectively awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the award being announced under the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919, which retrospectively recognises gallant and distinguished services in the Field prior to capture. Palethorpe's D.C.M. is unique to the Grenadier Guards for the action of Vieux Berquin, whilst 12 men from his battalion were decorated with the Military Medal, their awards being announced in the same army order. Initially posted as 'Missing', Palethorpe was later confirmed as having been taken prisoner of war on 13 April 1918, and according to the Battalion War Diary, was one of only 20 officers and men to have survived from No 3 Company.

Captain T. T. Pryce, also of Palethorpe’s battalion, was afterwards awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his bravery and self sacrifice on this day, his citation provides further background to this action: ‘For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice when in command of a flank on the left of the Grenadier Guards. Having been ordered to attack a village he personally led forward two platoons, working from house to house, killing some thirty of the enemy, seven of whom he killed himself. The next day he was occupying a position with some thirty to forty men, the remainder of his company having become casualties. As early as 8.15 a.m., his left flank was surrounded and the enemy was enfilading him. He was attacked no less than four times during the day, and each time beat off the hostile attack, killing many of the enemy. Meanwhile the enemy brought three field guns to within 300 yards of his line, and were firing over open sights and knocking his trench in. At 6.15 p.m., the enemy had worked to within sixty yards of his trench. He then called on his men, telling them to cheer and charge the enemy and fight to the last. Led by Captain Pryce, they left their trench and drove back the enemy with the bayonet some 100 yards. Half an hour later the enemy had again approached in stronger force. By this time Captain Pryce had only 17 men left, and every round of his ammunition had been fired. Determined that there should be no surrender, he once again led his men forward in a bayonet charge, and was last seen engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. With some forty men he had held back at least one enemy battalion for over ten hours. His company undoubtedly stopped the advance through the British line, and thus had great influence on the battle’.

Interned at Soltau P.O.W. Camp, in Lower Saxony near Hanover, Palethorpe's entry in the Red Cross POW Register confirms the place and date of his capture as 'Estairs' on 13 April 1918, and states that at the time of his capture he was suffering from 'a head wound'. He remained a prisoner until his repatriation on 27 December 1918, when he was posted to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion Grenadier Guards in preparation for his discharge, which occurred on 16 May 1919, in consequence of having completed his second period of engagement. He had served a total of 21 years and 24 days.

Thomas Palethorpe married Miss Edith Ballinger on 5 July 1911. Widowed in 1916, he married secondly Mrs. Gladys Green, the widow of Sergeant Arthur Green, who had been Palethorpe's best pal, and who had been killed in action at Loos on 27 September 1915, on 31 January 1918. After taking his discharge he was employed as ‘Doorkeeper’ at the Bank of England in Threadneedle Street, London.

Sold together with various photographic images of the recipient.