Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Private R. G. Gower, West Kent Yeomanry, who died of wounds received in the battle of Jerusalem in December 1917
British War and Victory Medals (1911 Pte., W. Kent Yeo.) good very fine (2) £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brett Collection of Medals to The Buffs.

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Robert George Gower, 10th Bn. The Buffs, formerly 3/1st West Kent Yeomanry, enlisted Maidstone, Kent, died of wounds in Palestine on 9 December 1917. He is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery.

The 10th Bn. East Kent Regiment was formed in Egypt in February 1917, the product of the conversion and amalgamation of two Yeomanry Regiments, the Royal East Kent and the West Kent. Forming part of the 74th Division, they entered the trenches on 23 April 1917, as the 2nd battle of Gaza ended in gloom and stagnation. On 25 October they set off in moonlight on Allenby’s famous right hook, and they made two attacks at dawn, after long night marches, to speed the fall of Beersheba and Gaza. On 8 December they had a stiff fight, up a sheer and muddy slope, for a ridge beyond Nebi Samwil. The Turks abandoned it during the night and the city of Jerusalem was occupied the following day, with Allenby making his triumphant entry on foot on the 11th. The 10th Battalion had approximately 10 men killed or died of wounds in this action.