Orders, Decorations and Medals

Captain (formerly Colour Sergeant) E. A. Pauly, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, who was wounded, losing the sight of both eyes at the the Battle of Festubert on the night of 15/16 May 1915, whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps - In the following year King George V personally intervened to insure that he was able retain the rank of Captain: ‘This is a case worthy of every possible consideration and of exceptional treatment. The man has lost almost everything but life and if any little thing can be done to make the terrible affliction which he has to bear lighter, and to cheer his future days it ought to be carried out.”

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4491 A. Cpl., 2/R. Bde.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (4491 Sgt., Rifle Brigade); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4491 Serjt., Rifle Brigade) surname spelt ‘Pauley’ on Q.S.A. and K.S.A.; 1914 Star, with clasp (4491 C. Sjt., 2/Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (4491 C. Sjt., Rif. Bde.); Khedive’s Sudan 1898-1910, no clasp, unnamed as issued, very fine and better (8) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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The proceedings of the Medical Board found that Captain Pauly was ‘completely blinded by the explosion of a shell near him’ at Festubert on 15 May 1915.

An extraordinary series of letters contained in his correspondence file at the National Archives shows how the C.O. of the Rifle Brigade made a plea that Pauly be allowed to retain permanently the rank of Captain even though he had held it only as a Temporary rank for less than the required three months. This request initially met strong opposition, however, on being informed of Captain Pauly’s plight the King intervened on his behalf with the following letter, dated 17 August 1916, with which there could be no argument:

‘The King has heard that Captain E. A. Pauly, late King’s Royal Rifles was commanding his company on the night of the 15th May 1915 in the attack upon the enemy’s position at Festubert, and whose wounds received on that occasion resulted in permanent blindness, has been informed that he must revert to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant because he had not held that of Temporary Captain for three months before the above incident took place.

His Majesty feels that this is a case worthy of every possible consideration and of exceptional treatment. The man has lost almost everything but life, and if any little thing can be done to make the terrible affliction which he has to bear lighter, and to cheer his future days it ought to be carried out.

The King understands that this slight concession will involve no expense to the country, and therefore he asks that Pauly may be allowed to retain the rank of Captain, which position he was considered worthy to hold and to exercise in leading his company into battle.’

The following obituary notice is extracted from The Rifle Brigade Chronicle 1944:

‘Captain Ernest Arthur Pauly was born 21 December 1875, at Horsham, Sussex. He enlisted as a H.Q. recruit into the 2nd Battalion at Aldershot in 1895, and it was with that battalion that he served throughout while with the regiment. He soon proved himself a useful footballer and played in the battalion team in 1896 and 1897.

He was present with the battalion at Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee procession in London, and afterwards embarked for Malta. From there he went to Egypt and took part in the Nile Expedition of 1898, being present at the Battle of Omdurman. From Egypt he went to Crete and served there during the disturbances of 1899. In October of that year he embarked for South Africa and took part in the defence of Ladysmith. He lasted out this siege without sustaining wounds or sickness and on the conclusion of hostilities went to Cairo, having then the rank of Sergeant. Three years later he went to India. He was promoted Colour Sergeant in 1910 and posted to ‘H’ Company.

In 1914 he left India for France with the battalion and early in November 1914 was selected for a commission and gazetted to the 60th Rifles. At the Battle of Festubert [15/16 May 1915] he was wounded, losing the sight of both eyes. He died of pneumonia on 15 April 1944, having been totally blind for 29 years.

He was indeed a loveable character and his cheerfulness, ability and independence in spite of his terrible affliction made him a grand example of patience and courage to all who had the good fortune to know him. He maintained the greatest interest in his old regiment to the last. He was buried with Military Honours at Wallington.’