Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War O.B.E., ‘Battle of Loos - Gun Trench’ M.C. group of eight awarded to Captain F. W. Trott, 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment - who distinguished himself with Captain H. Gwynn, when the Battalion captured 4 German Field Guns despite suffering devastating casualties, 25 September 1915. Trott, who received multiple wounds during the action, subsequently transferred to the Royal Flying Corps - advanced to Group Captain, commanded 28 Squadron on the North West Frontier, and was awarded the Legion of Merit for serving as Head of Air Mission in Washington and then as London liaison with the US Army, 1940-45

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E., (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse contemporarily engraved ‘F. W. Trott. 8th Battn Devon Regt Loos, Sep. 25th 1915.’; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. F. W. Trott. Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. F. W. Trott.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (S/L. F. W. Trott. R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine or better (8) £1,200-£1,600

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

U.S.A. Legion of Merit, London Gazette Officer 15 March 1946.

Francis William Trott was born in Heavitree, Exeter, Devon in 1892. He was the son of John Trott, who taught science at the University of Exeter. Trott was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He initially served as a Second Lieutenant during the Great War with the 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in France from 25 July 1915.

Trott distinguished himself during the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915, when the 8th Battalion under the surviving officers - Captain H. Gwynn and Trott - spotted and captured a German Battery during the assault on the German held positions at Hulluch. Gwynn was awarded the D.S.O. for his bravery, and Trott the M.C. Further details behind the awards were given in The Western Morning News, 5 April 1919:

'The gunners were, on the orders of Lt. Trott - a gallant officer whose bandaged head and bloodstained face bore evidence of an earlier wound - taken prisoners and sent to the rear .... The back of the town was packed with the enemy. They had expected the attack, and had made every preparation to resist it. So strong was their defence that within a very short time the Devons were only a handful of fifty men with captain Gwynn and Lieut. Trott, and at a quarter to nine the order was given to retire from the town and dig in just outside. Whilst they were falling back more men fell, Capt. Gwynn was wounded with a bomb, and Lieut. Trott took command. In order to be able to put up a better resistance he withdrew again slightly, and the men who were left, firing from their knees, put up a plucky resistance. Then Lieut. Trott was again wounded in the hand, and the charge fell on Company Sergt.-Major Bryant.'

The men of the 8th Battalion captured 4 field guns in ‘Gun Trench’, but suffered heavily during the Battle of Loos. The Battalion’s total casualties were 639, including 19 officers - 227 men were listed as killed or missing, and 343 as wounded or gassed.

Trott recovered from his wounds, advanced to Captain and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in February 1917. He got married at Exeter Cathedral in June 1918, and subsequently advanced to Acting Major, Royal Air Force. Trott remained in the R.A.F. after the Great War, and served as a Flight Lieutenant with 24 Squadron at Kenley in 1921. His family address being “Comroye”, Topsham Road, Exeter.

Trott advanced to Squadron Leader in January 1926, and served on the North West Frontier - including the command of 28 Squadron, 22 November 1931 - 19 March 1932. He was promoted to Wing Commander in 1934, and served at the Air Ministry (Directorate of Postings). Trott was appointed Group Captain, and the first Commanding Officer of No. 1 Air Armament School in Lincolnshire, in January 1938. He continued to serve during the Second World War, and was Head of Air Mission in Washington and then as London liaison with the US Army from 1940 to 1945. Trott was awarded the USA Legion of Merit in 1946, and retired as a Group Captain in April 1946. He died in 1975.