Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private O. E. Scott, 1st Battalion, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), who was killed in action during the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914

1914 Star (8438 Pte. O. E. Scott, Royal Lancaster Regiment); British War and Victory Medals (8438 Pte. O. E. Scott. R. Lanc. R.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-£240

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

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Oliver Edward Scott was born in 1886 at Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk and attested for the Royal Lancaster Regiment at Blackburn in 1904. Following the outbreak of the Great War he embarked with the 1st Battalion on the S.S. Saturnia, arriving at Boulogne, France on 23 August 1914 as part of the 12th Brigade in General Snow’s 4th Division. The following day his battalion travelled by train to Bertry and then marched to Ligny. Here on 25 August they were ordered to advanced to Viesly but later withdrew during the night to positions just north-west of Ligny before coming under the command of II Corps just as General Smith-Dorrien decided to make his stand in the rolling country around Le Caudry, to the west of Le Cateau, declaring, ‘Very well, gentlemen, we will fight, and I will ask General Snow to act under me as well.’ Smith-Dorrien’s decision to fight this important delaying rearguard action may well have saved the British from destruction by the massive German onslaught during the general Allied retreat following sustained German successes at the four Battles of the Frontiers.

The location, a long ridge running west-east with Le Cateau at its eastern end, was far from ideal. The ground was soft, so easy for the troops to dig in, but it lacked cover, was dominated by a German-held ridge to the north and, worst of all, both flanks were open. The west, held by 4th Division, was absolutely vulnerable to flanking movements designed to encircle II Corps. Snow now set up his Division HQ at the village of Haucourt with 12th Brigade furthest forward on the left near Esnes and Longsart and the Royal Lancaster Regiment on high ground across the Warnelle Brook. Here the King’s Own was caught forming up in the open at dawn and suffered some 400 casualties in a single two minute burst of heavy machine-gun and artillery fire.

A clear picture of this disaster can be gathered from the following extract from a letter written by Captain G. R. L. Beaumont, B Company, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment:
‘We arrived at dawn by the Ligny Road to a spot where subsequently we suffered so heavily. The Battalion was ordered to form close Column facing the enemy’s direction of defences. Companies were dressed by the right, piled arms, and place equipment at their feet. There was a big stir because some of the arms were out of alignment and the equipment did not in all cases show a true line. A full 7 to 10 minutes was spent in adjusting these errors. The Brigade Commander rode up to the Commanding Officer and shortly afterwards we were told to remain where we were as breakfast would shortly be up. Everyone was very tired and hungry having had nothing to eat since dinner the day before. A remark was passed as regards our safety. My Company Commander replied that French Cavalry were out in front and the enemy could not possibly worry us for at least three hours.

The picture of this period was as follows:-
Three Companies of the Battalion in close Column, the fourth company just about to move up to the left with a view to continuing a line with the 20th who had just commenced to dig in. Just about this time some Cavalry (about a troop) rode within 500 yards of us, looked at us and trotted off again. I saw their uniform quite distinctly and mentioned that they were not Frenchmen. I was told not to talk nonsense and reminded that I was very young. It was early in the morning and nobody felt talkative, least of all my Company Commander? The Cavalry appeared again in the distance and brought up wheeled vehicles; this was all done very peaceably and exposed to full view. We could now hear the road transport on the cobbled road and a shout went up “Here’s the Cooker”. New life came to the men and Mess Tins were hurriedly sought. Then came the fire. The field we were in was a cornfield. The corn had been cut. Bullets were mostly about 4 feet high just hitting the top of the corn stalks. Temporary panic ensued. Some tried to reach the valley behind, others chewed the cud; of those who got up most were hit. The machine gun fire only lasted about two minutes and caused about 400 casualties. The 4th Company moving off to the left was caught in columns of fours. Shell fire now started and did considerable damage to the transport, the cooker being the first vehicle to go. A little Sealyham terrier that we had collected at Horsham St. Faith’s before embarking, and that the troops had jacketed with the Union Jack was killed whilst standing next to the Driver of a General Service Wagon. I mention this as I saw the same Driver the day after still carrying the dog, he was very upset when he was ordered to bury it.

The Commanding Officer was killed by the first burst and the Second in Command rallied the Battalion; several of us taking up position to the right of the point where we had suffered so heavily. An attack was organised at once, we re-took our arms and got in most of the wounded. The others were left and taken prisoner later at Haucourt Church that night.’

Further rearguard actions continued under heavy shell-fire throughout the day. Into the evening around half of the King's Own, receiving no orders to retire, remained in position at Haucourt, covering the retirement of the artillery. As the German 13th Reserve Infantry Brigade infiltrated the village supported by extensive artillery fire, street fighting then continued into the night with the King’s Own being known to have delivered several bayonet charges.

Private Scott was the Son of Robert and Charlotte Scott, of 61, Churchgate St., Bury St. Edmunds and husband of Emily Buzley (formerly Scott), of 52, Newnham St., Ely, Cambs. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.