The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment

Five: Private A. E. Hutchinson, Manchester Regiment, who was severely wounded at Tweefontien on 5 May 1901, and was subsequently captured and taken Prisoner of War at Givenchy on 21 December 1914, recording his time as a prisoner in a fascinating memoir

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (5475 Corl. A. E. Hutchinson. Manch: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5475 Corpl. J. [sic] Hutchinson. Manch. Regt.); 1914 Star (5475 Pte. A. E. Hutchinson. 1/Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (5475 Pte. A. E. Hutchinson. Manch. R.) mounted court-style for display, edge bruising and contact marks to the Boer War pair, these nearly very fine; the Great War awards better (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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Albert Edward Hutchinson was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in February 1880 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment at Ashton Under Lyne on 3 October 1898. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, and on the outbreak of the South African War he was chosen for one of those to serve in the Mounted Infantry Company attached to 14th Battalion Mounted Infantry, holding the rank of Corporal. He was reported as severely wounded at Tweefontein on 5 May 1901, when serving in the Mounted Infantry. On the cessation of hostilities he was posted back to the 1st Battalion of his regiment and reverted to the rank of Private.

In 1904 Hutchinson was posted back to 2nd Battalion, and was transferred to the Army Reserve in October 1906. On 9 August 1914 he was recalled for service in 1st Battalion the Manchester Regiment and embarked for Le Havre on 13 November 1914. He joined his battalion in the trenches in early December 1914. On 20 December his battalion was ordered to retake the village of Givenchy, and Hutchinson was one of those who was reported as missing in action on Christmas Day 1914. He was later reported as killed in action on 21 December 1914; however, this report was false, as in May 1915 he was confirmed as a Prisoner of War at the German camp at Wittenberg, having been shot in the arm and taken prisoner in the action at Givenchy. Unusually, at some stage whilst still in captivity, he was sent to Switzerland for an operation on his left arm and elbow, and he was repatriated to England on 15 September 1915. He was discharged ‘no longer physically fit for active service’ on 31 January 1918.

Sold with a fascinating typescript copy memoir by the recipient titled ‘A True Story of my captivity in the Hands of the Huns’; copied service records; and other research, including a photographic image of the recipient.