Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Three: Private T. W. Mason, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was killed in action at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914
1914 Star (7158 Pte. T. W. Mason. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (7158 Pte. T. W. Mason. Suff. R.) good very fine

Three: Private J. W. Mason, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who was captured at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914
1914 Star (6823 Pte. J. W. Mason. 2/Suff: R.); British War and Victory Medals (6823 Pte. J. W. Mason. Suff. R.) good very fine (6) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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Thomas William Mason was born in 1888 at Thetford, Cambridgeshire and attested for the Suffolk Regiment at Ely in 1905. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Havre on 15 August 1914. Having retreated from Mons on the night of 23 August, his battalion arrived at Le Cateau where, on the morning of 26 August, Lord Douglas Malise Graham (ADC to Divisional Commander) remarked to Major Peebles, ‘you are going to fight it out here’. Brigadier-General S. P. Rolt (Commander 14th Brigade) then informed the Battalion, ’You understand, there is to be no thought of retirement.’

Tenaciously holding on to the high ground overlooking Le Cateau from the west, the 2nd Suffolks played a crucial role during the battle in enabling the 5th Division to withdraw down the Roman Road to the south west later in the day. A substantial effort was made by the Germans to dislodge the Suffolks who were exposed to heavy gunfire from the German batteries to their front and their flanks and also infiltration by infantry around their flanks:
‘Many years later a German officer who fought with 7th Division of IV Corps recalled the stubborn resistance of 2/Suffolks and 2/KOYLI on the ridge to the south of Le Cateau - ‘I did not think it possible that flesh and blood could survive so great an onslaught. Our men attacked with the utmost determination, but again and again they were driven back by these incomparable soldiers.’ (The Mons Star by David Ascoli refers)

Suffering heavy losses, the Suffolks were provided with re-enforcement and support, with great difficulty and high casualties, by the Argylls of 19th Brigade and the Manchesters of 14th Brigade. The Germans massed for a final attack at 2.30pm, and called upon the Suffolks to surrender. Attacks continued from the front and right flanks, but the battalion was only finally overrun when the Germans worked their way round to the rear of the Suffolks’ positions.

The survivors got away to Bohain, and mustered for a roll call in St Quentin which only showed 2 Officers and 111 Other Ranks left. The majority of the losses were men who were wounded and taken prisoner; it is estimated that more than 500 men from the battalion became prisoners of war in this action.

Private Mason was initially reported missing after the battle and there was a report of him being in Cambrai Hospital in January 1915 but he was never traced as a Prisoner of War and was later officially confirmed as being killed in action on 26 August 1914. He was the son of John and Eliza Mason, of Little Thetford, Ely, Cambridgeshire and having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

James W. Mason, older brother of the above, was born in 1885 at Thetford, Cambridgeshire and attested for the Suffolk Regiment in 1904. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, landing at Havre on 15 August 1914, and was captured at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914. He was held prisoner of war at Doberitz.