Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1914 ‘Battle of Armentières’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Corporal W. H. Moreby, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, who was also killed in action during the battle, 25 October 1914, and posthumously Mentioned in Despatches

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6457 Cpl W. H. Moreby. 1/Leic: Regt); 1914 Star, with loose clasp (6457 Cpl W. H. Moreby. 1/Leic: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (6457 Cpl. W. H. Moreby Leic. R.) generally good very fine (4) £1,400-£1,800

D.C.M. London Gazette 17 December 1917:
‘For gallantry on 25th October in the engagement at the railway crossing near the factory south of Rue de [sic] Bois.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915.

William Henry Moreby was born in Braunstone, Leicestershire, and attested for the Leicestershire Regiment at Leicester in August 1902. He advanced to Lance Corporal and transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1910. Moreby served as a Police Constable with the Leeds City Police, and then re-engaged for service with the 1st Battalion of his old regiment and served with them in the French theatre of war from 9 September 1914.

Moreby served with ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment during the Battle of Armentières in October 1914. He both distinguished himself, and paid the ultimate sacrifice on the same day, when the Battalion were in action near the Chemical Factory south of Rue du Bois, 25 October 1914.

The Regimental History gives the following for the 25/26th October:
‘At 6pm reports were received from O.C. Leicestershire Regiment that hostile shelling had compelled his battalion to evacuate this trench line from just south of the Rue du Bois to Le Quesne, that his men were lying in the open along the railway line and the the enemy’s infantry were massing in the area Le Quesne - Distillery and that he considered their attack imminent. The G.O.C. 16th I.B. and one company of the Buffs proceeded to the railway station, La Houssoie, HQ 1st Leicestershire Regiment, with the object of initiating a counter-attack. From reports on arrival such action was, however, considered impracticable, the enemy was in considerable strength, the night was very dark, and the ground very much broken. The enemy was undoubtedly in occupation of the large Distillery buildings and a group of houses east of the railway crossing south of the station.

It was decided that the Leicestershire Regiment should continue to hold their ground immediately south of Rue du Bois, and bend back their line to the railway line about 250 yards off the Rue du Bois cross-roads, and continued the line along a deep ditch bordering the west of the railway to the railway crossing south of the station. At this point the defensive line was to cross the east of the railway along the bank of a shallow cutting about 18 inches deep through which the railway runs to a culvert about 500 yards south...’

The German attack came at dawn on 25 October, and raged against the Leicesters on the railway embarkment around La Houssoie station. Around the level crossing to the south, ‘D’ Company were overwhelmed with about 100 men being taken prisoner. By 9am the British forces had regained their lost trenches, and a bitter hand to hand fight ensued at the level crossing with the Germans engaging heavy artillery. The line was held throughout the day, and the casualties were two Officers wounded, 22 other ranks killed, 68 wounded and 98 missing.

Corporal Moreby was amongst those killed in action, and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium as well as on the Leeds Town Hall Memorial, Yorkshire (a picture of him is also shown on the Regimental website).