The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

Family group:

A Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Captain A. H. Ayscough, Royal Fusiliers, late Honourable Artillery Company and onetime attached the South Nottinghamshire Hussars

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (751 L. Cpl. A. H. Ayscough, H.A.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. H. Ayscough); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the first four mounted as worn, generally good very fine or better

The Boer War Medal awarded to Lieutenant C. H. Ayscough, Royal Engineers (Militia)

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. H. C. Ayscough, R.E. Mil.), good very fine (7) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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M.C. London Gazette 17 September 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when out on patrol in No Man’s Land. A sap head about 150 yards away was suddenly attacked on both flanks by the enemy. He returned to the sap head through a very heavy trench mortar barrage, and so disposed his Lewis guns as to enfilade both parties of the enemy, afterwards taking personal charge of the bombing section and inflicting such casualties upon the enemy that they were dispersed. His prompt and gallant action inspired all ranks with the greatest confidence.’

Alan Harvey Ayscough was born in March 1893 and was educated at Christ’s Hospital School, Hersham, where he enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company, in February 1913. Subsequently embarked for France in the 1st Battalion in August 1914, he remained actively employed in the same capacity until March 1915, when he was commissioned in the 17th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Having then won his M.C. for the above cited deeds, he served as Adjutant to the South Nottinghamshire Hussars from March-October 1918 and was released in the rank of Captain in March 1919.

Returning to civilian life as an employee of his family’s travel agency business, Ayscough once more donned uniform as a Military Administrative Officer on the R.E. and Signals Board in November 1939, and rose to the rank of Major in the War Office before being released in June 1945.

Cyril Henry Ayscough, who was born in Worcestershire in July 1873, was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Thames Militia Division of the Royal Engineers in July 1897, and had recently attained the rank of Lieutenant by the time of his active service out in South Africa in Cape Colony between April-May 1902. He resigned his commission in March of the following year.