Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private A. L. Tate, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action at the Battle of Poelcapelle on 9 October 1917 - for his gallantry that day Sergeant J. Molyneux, of the same Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross

1914-15 Star (L-15226 Pte. A. L. Tate. R.Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-15226 Pte. A. L. Tate. R. Fus.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Lewis Tate) nearly extremely fine (4) £200-£240

Arthur Lewis Tate was born in Holborn, London, and attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 18 January 1915 and was posted missing, presumed killed in action, at the Battle of Poelcapelle on 9 October 1917 - an action described in the Regimental History as ‘a filthy advance; it was costly; it was unsatisfactory’. Despite the heroism of the advance, the final objective could not be reached, and by the end of the day the Germans had been able to reoccupy many of their former positions.

For his gallantry during the battle Sergeant John Molyneux, 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was awarded the Victoria Cross (London Gazette 23 November 1917):
‘For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During an attack, which was held up by machine-gun fire which caused many casualties, Sergeant Molyneux instantly organised a bombing party to clear the trench in front of a house. Many enemy were killed and a machine-gun captured. Having cleared this obstacle, he immediately jumped out of the trench and called for someone to follow him, and rushed for the house. By the time the men arrived he was in the thick of a hand-to-hand fight; this only lasted a short time, and the enemy surrendered, and, in addition to the dead and wounded, between 20 and 30 prisoners were taken. Apart from the personal bravery of this non-commissioned officer, his initiative and dash prevented a slight check from becoming a serious block in the advance, and undoubtedly prevented many casualties.’

Tate has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

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