The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Three: Lieutenant C. E. Macaulay, King’s African Rifles, late Royal Fusiliers

1914-15 Star (G-12960 L. Cpl., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.) good very fine (3)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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Charles Edward Macauley was born in Bradford in 1892. A Wool Grader by trade, he attested at Bradford on 16 February 1915 and was posted to the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Frontiersmen), which battalion of the London Regiment had been raised in London by the Legion of Frontiersmen four days before. Promoted Lance Corporal in March, he embarked for East Africa, arriving in Mombassa in May. Promoted Corporal in June he was severely wounded on 11 September 1915, taking a gunshot to the left axilla and shoulder. After recovering from his wounds, in December 1915 he was transferred to the East African Pay Corps. In 1916 he was commissioned into the King’s African Rifles, being appointed Lieutenant on 27 August 1916.

Sold with copied service and other papers. Amongst the documents is a copied letter, dated Dublin, 29 June 1920, in which he sought the honorary title of Captain, following his having been ‘discharged from the Army on medical grounds on January 1st 1920, caused by wounds’. Macaulay goes on to give his reasons for making such a claim, stating he was a full Lieutenant for over three years and although frequently recommended for promotion he failed to secure a Captaincy ‘due to there being no establishment’. He further underlined his claim by stating that he ‘came over from the United States to join up in 1914, paying my own passage’ and emphasizing the sacrifice he made to join the British Army stated that he was ‘a loyal Irishman and therefore had no need to join up, and that means a lot in the States’, and finally, that the rank would assist him in building up his business. His request was refused. He died in 1972 in Dublin.