Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major T. Roche, 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), a Boer War veteran who went out to France with the original British Expeditionary Force on 14 August 1914 and was killed in action at Hooge during the First Battle of Ypres on 17 November 1914

1914 Star (Major T. Roche. Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. Roche.) nearly extremely fine (3) £400-£500

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

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M.I.D. London Gazettes 10 September 1901; 17 February 1915

Thomas Roche was born in 1874 at Annakissa House, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, the son of Thomas Roche J.P., and was educated at Eastman’s Academy, Southsea and Fawcett’s School, Cork. He joined the Wiltshire Regiment from the Militia in 1895, becoming Lieutenant in November 1896 and Captain in 1900. After five years in India, he proceeded to South Africa in September 1900 and served in the Boer War, being present at operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen’s medal with four clasps.

Returning to India, Roche was Adjutant of his battalion, 1902-06, and then, after passing through the Staff College, was Brigade-Major from 1909 to 1913, obtaining his majority in April of the latter year, having earlier been awarded the Delhi Durbar 1911 medal.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Roche served with the 1st Battalion on the Western Front from 14 August 1914. The 1st Wiltshire was heavily shelled facing Mons on 23 August and suffered approximately 100 casualties at Caudry three days later. Following the retreat from Mons, they began their advance from Châtres on 6 September and crossed the Aisne on 14 September, suffering heavy losses near Vailly (14 -22 September) and also the following month at Neuve Chapelle during the battle of La Bassé - Roche was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 21 October 1914.

Roche was killed in action by a shell near Hooge on 17 November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres. The War Diary of the 1st Wiltshire Regiment described the day’s activities as follows:
‘In action. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment are in trenches at Hooge. Shelling started about 9am. Infantry attack about 10.30am. At noon about 150 Germans got into D Company’s trenches. At 12.10 a platoon of D Company executed a bayonet charge against them, and drive them out killing about 50 Germans, and wounding many others. They then started to shell D Company very heavily, also using mortar. Major Roche killed by a Shell. Lieutenant Browne seriously wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Chandler killed by bullet wound. Lieut. Goodhart took over duties of Adjutant vice Lieut. Browne wounded. 11 killed, 15 wounded.’

Temporary Lieutenant Colonel Roche was initially buried 200 yards north-east of the Chateau south of the Menin-Ypres Road near Hooge. He was forty years old when he was killed and was posthumously Mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915. He now lies buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, Belgium.