Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War April 1917 D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private H. W. Green, 10th Hussars, for the notable cavalry V.C.-action at Monchy-le-Preux on 11 April when, with the Essex Yeomanry, they suffered heavy casualties in their heroic defence of the village over several days

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11558 Pte. H. W. Green. 10/Hrs:); 1914-15 Star (11558 Pte. H. W. Green. 10th Hrs.); British War and Victory Medals (11558 Pte. H. W. Green. 10-Hrs.) medals unmounted, good very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000.

D.C.M. London Gazette 18 June 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He formed a dressing station in a dug-out and got a large number of wounded into it, and for several days continued to render assistance to wounded men, exposing himself continuously.’
Annotated gazette states: ‘Monchy, 11 April 1917.’

On 9 April 1917 the British and Canadians began an attack which would become known as the Battle of Arras. The opening day was a spectacular success with the Canadians capturing Vimy Ridge but the British cavalry was held back too far behind the lines to exploit the temporary disarray in the German defences. At dawn on the 11th of April, elements of the 15th (Scottish) and 37th Divisions were holding positions in and around the village of Monchy-le-Preux. The 10th (Prince of Wales’ Own Royal) Hussars, along with other regiments from their Brigade, were ordered to circle round the village and advance to a position between Monchy and the River Scarpe. At 8.30am, in a blizzard, the Hussars began their advance along with the Essex Yeomanry and, as they crossed the southern slope of Orange Hill to the north of Monchy, they came under shell and machine gun fire which caused a number of casualties and forced the survivors to take shelter in the streets of Monchy itself. Here they became trapped under heavy shell fire for over three days, engaged in heavy fighting with the streets being strewn with the bodies of troopers and their horses. One eyewitness recounted that: ‘The main street of Monchy was indeed a terrible sight, and the horrors are not being exaggerated when it is described as being littered with dead men and horses. In one place the horses were lying so thick that it was necessary to climb over them in order to pass along the street.’ The Hussars lost 27 men killed during the attack and 157 wounded, and between themselves and the Yeomanry, around 900 horses are thought to have become casualties. Lance-Corporal Harold Mugford, Machine Gun Corps, attached Essex Yeomanry, was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

Harold W. Green served with the 10th Hussars in France from 18 October 1915. His was one of only 10 D.C.M.’s won by the 10th Hussars during the Great War, two of which were awarded for Monchy-le-Preux.