Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lance-Corporal B. O. Wallace, Middlesex Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (L-10721 L. Cpl. B. O. Wallace, 4/Midd’x R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-10721 Pte. B. O. Wallace. Midd’x R.) nearly very fine (3) £120-£160

Bertram Owen Wallace was born in 1888 in North Finchley, London and attested for the 5th (Militia) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 29 August 1905. He later served with the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 August 1914.

Wallace’s battalion was present at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the British Expeditionary Force’s first main day of action. On this day the Battalion was charged with the defence of Oburg Railway Station, a key point on the Mons-Conde canal. Two Companies were placed along the canal, with “D” Company in the railway station area, and another Company in reserve in the woods. The Germans pressed hard against these positions, inflicting heavy losses with artillery from the higher positions on the opposite side of the canal. One account recalls:
‘To the right of Nimy Bridge the 4th Middlesex were in the meanwhile putting up a no less stubborn defence, and against equally desperate odds. Major Davey, whose company was on the left, in touch with the right of the Royal Fusiliers, had fallen early in the day, and the position at that point finally became so serious that Major Abell’s company was rushed up from the reserve to support it. During this advance Major Abell himself, Captain Knoles and Second Lieutenant Henstock were killed, and a third of the rank and file fell, but the balance succeeded in reaching the firing line trenches and, with this stiffening added, the position was successfully held for the time being.’

However, later in the day the line faltered and the enemy began to outflank the battalion, which began a withdrawal through the Bois d’Harve, the wood to the south of Obourg Railway Station. A rear-guard was fought at the railway station, with an unknown private firing from the station roof until he was finally hit and killed. Total casualties for the battalion on this day were 9 Officers and 453 other ranks killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of War.

Wallace is recorded by the Red Cross International Committee as having been taken Prisoner of War during the Great War, and was listed as ‘missing’ on the 20 September 1914 casualty list issued by the War Office- given the date of this published casualty list, it is probably, indeed likely, that he was taken Prisoner of War in the action on 23 August 1914.