Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Commander P. H. Riddler, R.N., H.M. Armoured Train Churchill, second-in-command of the Heavy Armoured Trains in Belgium 1914-15

1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut. Commdr. P. H. Riddler. R.N. Armd. Trains.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. P. H. Riddler. R.N.) mounted as worn, good very fine and rare (3) £400-600

Only 77 1914 Stars issued to R.N. Armoured Trains.

Three Heavy Armoured Trains were built in Antwerp in September and October 1914, mounted with British naval guns, and placed under the overall command of Commander A. S. Littlejohns, R.N., with Lieutenant-Commander P. H. Riddler, R.N., as his second-in-command. Known from 9th November as H.M. Armoured Trains Jellicoe (Cdr. Littlejohns) with three 4.7-inch guns, H.M.A.T. Deguise (Belgian Captain Servais) with three 4.7-inch guns, and H.M.A.T. Churchill (Lt.-Cdr. Riddler) with two 6-inch guns, these three armoured trains fought around Antwerp until 7th October, then retreated via Ghent, in support of General Rawlinson's advance to Ypres. H.M.A.T. Churchill became operational at Oostende after the retreat from Antwerp and in December went into action in the area around Oostkerke against German batteries to the south of Dixmude. On 18 December Lt.-Cdr. Riddler was wounded by a shell. From the end of December 1914 to March 1915, the three trains were continuously in action, sometimes in support of an assault (Jellicoe at la Bassée on 10 January), but in particular in counter-battery or bombardment missions in action to neutralise trench lines (Jellicoe at Beuvry 20-24 January, Churchill at Oosterkerke on 28-29 January, and against an observation post at Ennetieres on 11 February, Déguise at Beuvry firing on a rail junction on the 15th, among other targets, and Churchill against a battery at Fleur d’Ecosse on 3 March). The guns of the trains were extremely effective, notably against troop concentrations. On 18 February, H.M.A.T. Déguise fired seven shells at German troops to the South-West of la Bassée. These actions brought the trains within range of the German artillery. The Germans scored hits, but the armour protection and swift manoeuvring of the trains normally protected the crews, except on 25 January when Jellicoe was hit, wounding two men and killing the Belgian engine driver. Between 10 and 13 March, the three trains supported the action at Neuve Chapell. On that occasion, Field Marshal Sir John French paid a surprise visit to H.M.A.T. Churchill, which was the command train for Commander Littlejohns. Towards the end of March 1915, the three trains were withdrawn from service.