The Collection of Medals Formed By Dr A W Stott

Three: Lieutenant Colonel C. O. Ibbetson, 9th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
1914-15 Star (Major C. O. Ibbetson, Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt.Col.) good very fine (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed By Dr A W Stott.

View
Collection

Major Cyril Owen Ibbetson was wounded when serving with the 9th Battalion at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, on the night of 6th-7th August 1915. “W” Company went forward, with some of “Y” under Major Ibbetson, to whom a staff officer pointed out a mound, about a mile inland, as being Hill 10. Ibbetson led a charge which carried the mound at the point of the bayonet. But his party at once came under heavy fire from a field work in front and from trenches which enfiladed them. He ordered an attack on the trenches which were taken at the cost of heavy casualties. Ibbetson was himself wounded, but refused to leave the line. The trenches just taken proved to be enfiladed by the field work; Ibbetson could therefore only order the men to take cover. The mound which they had moved was suddenly evacuated by the troops which had followed Ibbetson’s party, which was now completely isolated for several hours until a battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment attacked the field work. The Fusiliers joined in, killed a lot of Turks as they were retiring, met another part of the enemy who were about to counter-attack and scattered them. After further adventures, Ibbetson handed over his party to the Commanding Officer of the 5th Dorsetshire Regiment, by whom he was ordered to go to hospital, weak from loss of blood as a result of remaining in action twelve hours after he had been wounded.

Ibbetson was promoted Temporary Lieutenant Colonel and comanded the 9th Battalion from 30 March to 11 May 1916. He then served with the Garrison Battalion, Essex Regiment, and rejoined the 4th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, on 16 April 1918.