Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Military Medal awarded to Sergeant B. Hough, Warwickshire Yeomanry, for the action at Huj where the Warwickshire Yeomanry and Q.O. Worcestershire Hussars made their famous cavalry charge against the Turkish guns.

MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (310181 Sjt., 1/1 War. Yeo.-T.F.) nearly very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Mike Minton.

View
Collection

M.M., London Gazette, 10 April 1918.

Sergeant B. Hough had a most remarkable career during the Great War. He was one of 18 men of the regiment to be awarded the M.S.M. for the 'Wayfarer' incident in April 1915 (for further details see next lot), being mentioned in despatches in addition. He was wounded in action at Romani on 5 August 1916, and mentioned in Col. Cheape's despatches for good work during the action at Rafa on 9 January 1917 - 'for bravery and coolness and ability in handling men.' Finally, he took part in the famous Yeomanry mounted attack at Huj on 8 November 1917, when the Warwicks and Worcesters, totalling less than 200 all told, rode through and routed the enemy's force more than ten times their number. His was one of 5 Military Medals won by the regiment in the charge which itself was immorralised in a painting by Lady Butler.

Huj 8 November 1917

The charge at Huj on 8 November 1917, was one of the last cavalry actions in British military history. It took place in the closing stages of Allenby's campaign in Palestine during the advance on Jerusalem by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. During their retreat the Turkish rearguards fought stubbornly and offered considerable opposition. The Turkish 8th Army fought such an action in the vicinity of Huj where they had temporarily formed their headquarters. In the absence of artillery support, several squadrons of the Warwickshire Yeomanry and the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars, were ordered to take the enemy batteries. The attack on the horseshoe-shaped area included a full frontal charge on the main enemy position held by four 75mm guns. The position was overlooked by enemy artillery on three sides and, massively outnumbered the gallant Yeomen charged the Turkish guns in a manner not seen since the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava. Unlike Balaklava however, the charge at Huj, despite appalling losses to the Yeomanry, was successful and resulted in the capture of 12 guns and the complete route of the 1,000 strong Turkish infantry. The Official History of the Great War commented, '... for sheer bravery the episode remains unmatched ... The charge itself must ever remain a monument to extreme resolution, and to that spirit of self-sacrifice which is the only beauty redeeming ugly war.’