Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Victory Medal 1914-1919 (6) (Lieut. S. J. Cottle; 31808 Pte. F. T. Hopkins. M.G.C.; 87609 Pte. A. E. Roff. M.G.C.; 7963 Sjt. F.H.Taylor. A. Cyc. Corps.; 11157 Pte. H. E. Kny. A. Cyc. Corps.; 026084 Cpl. G. H. Foweraker A.O.C.) generally very fine (6) £100-£140

Sidney Joseph Cottle was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment from the Royal Fusiliers on 25 January 1915. He landed in France just over a year later on 5 February 1916 and was attached to the Machine Gun Corps when he was killed in action on 31 July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres. The BWM/Victory medal roll shows him under the heading “Tank” and indeed the Tank Corps, formerly the Heavy Branch MGC, had been formed just four days prior to his death. It is likely that he was one of those killed when the tanks got bogged down in the mud at Passchendaele. He is buried in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium.

Francis Thomas Hopkins, a native of Kennington, London, served with the 61st Company, Machine Gun Corps during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action during the Battle of Cambrai on 30 November 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial.

Alfred Edward Roff, a native of West Ealing, London, served with the 171st Company, Machine Gun Corps during the Great War on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 11 July 1917. He is buried in the Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres, France.

Frederick H. Taylor served with the Army Cyclist Corp as Lance Corporal during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 October 1915. He subsequently joined the Machine Gun Corps as a Sergeant and was discharged to the Class Z Reserve in May 1919.

Harry Ernest Kny was born in Amblecote, near Stourbridge, and died of malaria in Salonika on 19 November 1917. He is buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria.

Gordon Hamilton Foweraker died at home on 9 May 1919 and is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone in Brighton (Bear Road) Cemetery, Sussex.