Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Bombardment of Scarborough’ Boy Scout’s “Bronze Cross” group of three awarded to Patrol Leader Percy Robertshaw, 3rd Scarborough Troop, in 1914 - he went on to serve in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Great War

British War and Victory Medals (101998 Pte., R.A.M.C.); Boy Scouts’ Association Gallantry Cross, 1st Class, bronze, the reverse inscribed, ‘Percy Robertshaw, Scarboro., 16-12-14’, in its original J. A. Wyllie, London red leather case of issue, generally very fine or better (3) £800-1000

The Boy Scouts’ Headquarters Gazette of March 1915 confirms that Robertshaw received his “Bronze Cross” for stopping a runaway horse. He appears to have received his award, ‘the highest of the Association for gallantry’, in February 1915; sold with a photocopied photograph of him.

Although not mentioned in the official citation, the date on the cross provides ample reason for any horse to gallop away in a panic! In the early morning of 16 December 1914 the German battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann emerged from the mist off Scarborough and bombarded the North Yorkshire seaside town, whilst the accompanying light cruiser Kolberg laid mines. Some 500 shells were fired at the castle barracks and town, killing 17, injuring 80 and causing damage to property and to British prestige (and upsetting at least one horse!). At the same time, the battlecruisers Seydlitz and Moltke and heavy cruiser Bluecher bombarded the port of Hartlepool; later still the seaside town of Whitby was shelled by the squadron.