Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset

A Great War 1918 D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Y. Trestrail, Cheshire Regiment, a fine county sportsman for Somerset, who was wounded and gassed on the Somme in 1916, and led his company of the 15th Battalion with distinction during operations east of Terhand, 14 October 1918

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, centre loose and missing substantial red enamel, with integral top riband bar; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major A. E. Y. Trestrail); Coronation 1902, silver; Territorial Decoration, silver, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, with integral top riband bar, mounted for wear, unless otherwise stated, generally very fine or better (5) £1,200-£1,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 8 March 1919 (details appearing in the London Gazette 4 October 1919:

‘During the operations east of Terhand on the 14th October 1918, he led his men to the attack in a most determined way, and when hostile machine-gun fire was encountered from numerous strong points, he got his men to surround them and either killed or captured the occupants. His marked gallantry, cheeriness, and initiative were largely responsible for the objective being carried promptly.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 July 1919.

Alfred Ernest Yates Trestrail was born at Hallatrow Court, near Bristol, in January 1876, the son of Major Alfred Bond Trestrail, and was educated at Amersham Hall, New College Eastbourne, and Christ’s College, Cambridge. He represented Somerset at cricket (captaining the County side 1896-1900), football, hockey, lawn tennis, and was a member of the all England hockey team which toured Germany before the war. Trestrail was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in 1900, and practised in Clevedon. He served as a Captain with the 1st Gloucester Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers (Clevedon Company), and unsuccessfully stood for Parliament as a Liberal for Tiverton, Devon, in December 1910. Trestrail was appointed a District Councillor for Clevedon in April 1912.

Trestrail served during the Great War with the Cheshire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 2 June 1916. He ‘had a distinguished career in the Army, his period of service extending over a quarter of a century.

When war broke out, he threw up his practice and took a commission in the 14th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment. He proceeded to France and was both wounded and gassed on the Somme. He returned to France in 1918 and was serving with the 15th Battalion when he was awarded the D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry and his leadership of his company in the attack on Summerbee Farm. It is of interest to record that after the attack, the N.C.O.’s and men of his company wrote a letter to the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. Harrison-Johnston, D.S.O., expressing their appreciation of the manner in which Major Trestrail had conducted the attack.

After the war, he engaged his batman as a private servant, and one day was examining with his father and the servant, one of his war trophies - a captured German bomb. The servant pulled out the pin, thinking the bomb was harmless. A terrific explosion followed, in which the batman was killed, Major Trestrail wounded in the thigh and his father also slightly hurt. Major Trestrail subsequently pensioned the servant’s widow.

In 1932, when the Regimental Council was formed, Major Trestrail became a member of the Council as one of the two representatives of the New Army Battalions, and was so serving at the time of his death.

Major Trestrail was the best type of Englishman, kind, fearless and a true sportsman - never deviating from what he thought to be right, and outspoken when the occasion demanded it.’ (Obituary included in the lot refers).

Lieutenant-Colonel Trestrail died at ‘Far Dene’, New Milton, Hampshire, in February 1935.

Sold with extensive copied research, including photographic images of recipient in uniform.

For the medals awarded to the recipient’s father, Major A. B. Trestrail, see Lot 672.