Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Family group:

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of three attributed to Lieutenant D. I. Gotch, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, subsequently Gloucestershire Regiment, who was taken prisoner of war on 23 March 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., in fitted case of issue; Defence and War Medals; together with corresponding miniatures and a quantity of original documentation, comprising, two commission documents; photograph of recipient in uniform; M.I.D. certificate, dated 13 November 1916; letter of congratulation on award of M.C. from a fellow officer; a programme from Gravdenz P.O.W. camp for a musical performed by the Gravdenz Amateur Dramatic Society; Buckingham Palace letter welcoming home prisoners of war; copy of the London Gazette, dated 8 June 1943 announcing award of the Efficiency Decoration; and a German Great War period cloth epaulette

Pair: Second Lieutenant D. H. Gotch, 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, formerly 1/28th London Regiment (Artist’s Rifles), who was killed in action on 11 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle

1914 Star (1293 Pte., 1/28 Lond. R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2. Lieut.); together with a quantity of original documentation, comprising, Discharge Certificate from 28th London Regiment, in consequence of his having been commissioned; commission certificate, dated 27 February 1915; two photographs of recipient in uniform; transmission slips for Great War medals; other misellaneous photographs and documentation; and a much earlier related commission document on vellum, dating back to 1803, appointing John Cooper Gotch to the rank of Captain in the Kettering Volunteer Infantry, signed by the Earl of Northampton and bearing his seal, good very fine and better (7)
£350-400

M.C. London Gazette 10 January 1917 ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. Although several times buried himself, he was constantly helping to dig out others, and by his cheerfulness and courage afforded a fine example to all ranks.’ The congratulatory letter included with the lot expands a little on this information: ‘... you thoroughly deserve it for your excellent work at Thiepval and also in Regina Trench until you became hors de combat’.

Davis Ingle Gotch was taken prisoner of war during the German Spring Offensive on 23 March 1918, before being repatriated on 18 December 1918. During the Second War he served with the Gloucestershire Regiment as a Captain (Temporary Major) and was awarded an Efficiency Decoration in June 1943.

Duncan Hepburn Gotch was killed in action in France and Flanders on 11 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. His name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.