The Tom Gustard Collection of Medals & Militaria and to the 21st Lancers

Three: Major H. Hathaway, 15/19th Hussars, late 21st Lancers

1914-15 Star (21L-5686 Sq. S. Mjr, 21-Lrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.), good very fine and better (3) £350-380

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Tom Gustard Collection of Medals & Militaria and to the 21st Lancers.

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Harry Hathaway, who was born in February 1884, served in the ranks of the 21st Lancers for 12 years, attaining the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1916. In the interim, he had qualified for his 1914-15 Star for the regiment’s opening action of the War at Shabkadar on 5 September 1915, when in a celebrated charge fellow 21st Lancer, Shoeing-Smith Charles Hull, was awarded the V.C. The regimental history takes up the story:

‘The Mohmand tribe, a warrior race of Afghan origin, encouraged by German and Turkish arms and money, advanced south through the Khyber Pass towards the rich Punjab. A Field Force was immediately sent to meet them and the Regimental Headquarters with ‘B’ and ‘C’ Squadrons and the Machine-Gun Section marched from Risalpur at the end of August 1915, to join it.

Early on the 5 September, after a day or two spent patrolling the area, a large number of tribesmen was found entrenched in the foothills near the village of Shabkadar. A confused battle developed after the Field Force infantry advanced and finally a charge was made by the two squadrons led by the Commanding Officer, to clear a force of the enemy which was outflanking our line.

A canal had to be crossed in order to reach the enemy and inevitably there was some confusion and loss of formation. As each man scrambled out he was engaged at close quarters and, although tribesmen outnumbered the squadrons by five to one, a large number of them was accounted for before they could escape into the thick fields of eight-foot-high maize.

Private (Shoeing-Smith) C. Hull was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valour in this battle. Seeing that Captain G. E. D. Learoyd, the Adjutant, had had his horse shot under him and was in great danger, Hull galloped up to him under a heavy fire, took him on his horse and carried him to safety.

Regimental Sergeant-Major E. Ryder, Staff-Sergeant (Saddler) W. Simpson and Lance-Corporal T. Ballard were all awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Mr. Ryder, who was commissioned as a Regimental Officer soon afterwards, freed a Private whose foot was caught in the stirrup iron of his fallen horse. Staff-Sergeant Simpson first rescued a Sergeant who had been dismounted, was surrounded, and in great danger, and then went on foot to protect an officer who, being mortally wounded, was unable to protect himself. Lance-Corporal Ballard first offered his horse to his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Scriven, whose own had been shot under him. The Colonel refused to take it, but, catching hold of a stirrup leather, went forward again with Ballard and Lance-Corporal Lucas towards the enemy. They had not gone far before Colonel Scriven was shot through the heart, his last words being: “Go on, lads, I’m done.” Ballard, however, refused to leave his body, and, with Lucas, dragged it to the edge of a maize field. They lay behind it and kept the enemy at bay firing over it until Ballard saw the 1st Lancers (Indian Army) coming up when he broke from cover and guided the Commanding Officer to the body of his Colonel.’

Ordered to Mespotamia soon after being commissioned, Hathaway served there on the Lines of Communication, was onetime attached to the 14th Hussars and was mentioned in despatches ‘For gallant and distinguished services’ by Lieutenant-General Sir W. R. Marshall, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., C.-in-C., Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (London Gazette 12 January 1920 refers).

Next employed as a D.A.Q.M.G. and Staff Captain in India, Hathaway transferred to the 15th Hussars on the disbandment of the 21st and was advanced to Major in March 1924.

He appears to have been placed on the Retired List in the early 1930s; sold with a quantity of research, including a very entertaining account by Hathaway of his journey back home from Persia, via the Caucasas, after the War, including a memorable drive in a Ford van (a.k.a. “The Wanglebird”) from Hamadan to Enzeli, a distance of about 350 miles (photocopied article from the 21st Lancers’ Journal, The Vedette, 1 April 1920, refers).