The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of five awarded to Captain C. W. Hammerton, 3rd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment, late Private, 13th Middlesex (Queen’s Westminster) Volunteer Rifles and City of London Imperial Volunteers, and Imperial Yeomanry, who was wounded on 9 October 1917 at the Battle of Poelcapelle

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (D62 Pte. C. W. Hammerton, C.I.V.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. W. Hammerton, 3-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. C. W. Hammerton.) mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

View
Collection

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

Cecil Wentworth Hammerton was born in Handsworth, Staffordshire in 1881. He served in South Africa during the Boer War as part of the 13th Middlesex (Queen’s Westminster) Volunteer Rifles reinforcement detachment with the Infantry Battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers. Following the disbandment of the C.I.V. in London in December 1900, Hammerton re-enlisted, measuring 6’1” tall and weighing 196lb, on 31 January 1901, in the 28th (Bedfordshire) Company, 4th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Arriving in South Africa once more on 10 March 1901, he was commissioned Lieutenant 10 days later and served until 12 September 1902. Hammerton appears on the Q.S.A. medal roll for both the C.I.V. (Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps) and the Imperial Yeomanry (for the two date clasps).

Hammerton was a rancher in Rhodesia at the time of the outbreak of the Great War. Returning to London, he was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant into the 3rd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment and joined them in France shortly after the main body of the battalion had arrived on 1 February 1915 (his medal index card states ‘served in France from 1 February 1915’, although Passenger Lists show that Hammerton’s boat from Cape Town arrived in London on 15 February 1915.) In 1915 alone the Battalion was deployed in the Battles of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert and Loos, Hammerton’s services being recognised with a Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1916) and the award of the Military Cross.

Advanced to Captain on 17 March 1917, Hammerton transferred to the 1st Scots Guards and was wounded 9 October 1917, the day on which the battalion earned a Battle Honour for Poelcapelle. He was placed on the retired list on account of ill-health contracted on active service- his medal index card states entitled to Silver War Badge although this is not found on the roll.

After the war, Hammerton emigrated to Rhodesia to prospect. He died in 1924.