Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Serjeant L. Cautley, Yorkshire Regiment, who died in Italy, 28 October 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (12365 Sjt., 8/York. R.) good very fine £240-280

Lawrence Cautley was born in Hedon, Yorkshire in December 1894. He joined the 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and landed with them in France as a Corporal on 26 August 1915. The Battalion formed part of the 69th Brigade, 23rd Division. The 8th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment took part in the Battle of Loos and on 1 July 1916 moved to Bazieux Wood for the Battle of the Somme. Here they joined the 9th Yorkshire Regiment in the attack on Horseshoe Trench. At 0450hrs on the 10th July the Battalion went “Over the Top” in an attack on the village of Contalmaison however, they found the wire had not been cut and began to suffer heavy casualties from concentrated machine gun and rifle fire. Only four officers and 150 men reached the village but this force resisted continual counter attacks and captured over 250 prisoners. 300 men of the Battalion became casualties. The Battalion remained in forward positions until 6 August when they formed up again to capture the German position of Munster Alley. In this attack, Private William Short of the 8th Battalion earned the Victoria Cross. He was leading a bombing attack through the trenches when he was severely wounded. He brushed aside the stretcher-bearers and continued to throw grenades and finally prepared grenades for his colleagues to throw, until he was killed. The Battalion remained in the front line until 12 October 1916 when they entrained for the Ypres Sector. For his gallantry during this period Serjeant Cautley was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 9 December 1916).

On 13 November 1917 the 8th Battalion, still part of 69th Brigade, 23rd Division, landed in Italy. They formed part of 10th Army with two other British Divisions the 7th and 48th. They were engaged in the Battles of Piave and finally in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto where the Italians achieved a major victory. On 24 October the 8th Yorks attacked Monte Grappa and suffered heavy casualties, including Acting Warrant Officer Lawrence Cautley M.M., who died in a hospital in Genoa on 28 October 1918 (note Soldiers Died in the Great War states ‘Died’ rather than K.I.A. or ‘died of wounds’). Cautley was buried in the Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa. His parents William and Margaret Holmes Cautley were then living at 1, George Street, Hedon, Hull. With copied research, together with a C.D. with 34 pictures of the cemetery and Cautley’s grave, and includes photos of the graves of two S.A.S. soldiers who were captured and killed during W.W.2.