Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant O. Mowatt, Imperial Yeomanry, later 10th Hussars, who was twice wounded during the Boer War, and died of wounds during the Great War after a cavalry action at Monchy-le-Preux on 22 April 1917

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. O. Mowatt. 50/Co. Imp: Yeo:) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. O. Mowatt. I.Y.) engraved naming, mounted as worn and housed in Spink, London red leather case bearing the initials, ‘O.M’, minor edge bruise to the QSA, otherwise extremely fine (2) £500-£700

Osmond Mowatt was born in Notting Hill Square, Kensington on 24 May 1880, and served with the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa during the Boer War, firstly as a Lieutenant with the 50th (Hampshire) Company, 17th Battalion, and was wounded at Plessisdam on 26 June 1901. He joined the 53rd (Royal East Kent) Company, 11th Battalion on 11 October 1901, and was wounded for a second time at Tweefontein on 25 December 1901, on which date 1,000 Boers surprised and practically annihilated the 400-strong 11th Battalion as the men slept, inflicting casualties of 289 killed, wounded and captured, for the loss of 14 killed and 30 wounded.

Subsequently an undergraduate at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, Mowatt later became an underwriting member of Lloyd’s. He served as a Second Lieutenant with the 10th Hussars during the Great War on the Western Front from 4 November 1914, and having been promoted Lieutenant, he died of wounds on 22 April 1917 following a cavalry action at Manchy le Preux-Arras on 11 April. During this action the 10th Hussars lost 27 men killed and 157 wounded). Aged 36 years, he is buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France.

The following detailed biography is from the Lloyd’s listing of soldiers from the Lloyd’s community who lost their lives during the Great War:
‘10th (Prince of Wales’ Own Royal) Hussars. Died of on the 22nd of April 1917, aged 36. Osmond Mowatt was born at 5 Notting Hill Square, Kensington on the 24th of May 1880, the younger son of James Mowatt, a barrister at law, and Fanny Louisa (née Akroyd) Mowatt of Kingswood Firs, Bramshott, Haslemere in Hampshire. He was educated by private tutor and matriculated for Gonville and Caius College Cambridge in 1899, being admitted on the 2nd of October. Following the outbreak of the war in South Africa, Osmond left Cambridge and enlisted as a Private in 4th Volunteer Battalion (Imperial Yeomanry) in 1900. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment on the 9th of March 1901 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 11th of October 1901. He served in the South African War as a Lieutenant with the 50th Company, 17th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry and was wounded at Plessisdam on the 26th of June 1901. He transferred to the 53rd Company, 11th Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant on the 11th of October 1901 and was wounded again on the 25th of December 1901 at Tweefontein. Osmond was awarded the Queen’s Medal with three clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps and retired to the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant on the 29th of September 1902.

After that war ended, he returned to Cambridge where he achieved a BSc with high honours in 1904, and an MA with honours in 1907. He was a Sergeant in the Cambridge University Cavalry Squadron and represented the university at Bisley. Upon completing university, Osmond became an Underwriting Member of Lloyd’s and lived at 40 St James’s Place, London. On the 3rd of June 1903 he became a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. Following the outbreak of World War I, he applied for a commission on the 16th of September 1914, expressing a preference for either the 8th or the 10th Hussars. At his medical examination, which was held at Tidworth on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet seven inches tall and weighed 139lbs. Osmond was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 25th of September 1914, embarking for France on the 3rd of November 1914 and landing there the following day. He was attached to the 2nd Life Guards and joined them in the field on the 27th of November where he saw action at Ypres. He served with them for a short time before transferring to the 10th (Prince of Wales’ Own Royal) Hussars and served with them until he returned to their base in France on the 23rd of March 1915.

On the 25th of March he embarked on board a ship to return to England. On his departure his commanding officer wrote a letter of commendation: “Has been attached to the regiment under my command for the last four months. Prior to that he served with the 2nd Life Guards throughout the fighting around Ypres in November. I consider him an efficient cavalry officer, very keen and conscientious and I have requested that in the event of casualties he may be sent out to me. I have been most satisfied with his work in the regiment.”

On the 18th of May, Osmond boarded a ship once again to return to France, landing there the following day. On the 24th of March he rejoined the 10th Hussars in the field. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 18th of May 1915. On the 9th of 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, 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 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. Osmond Mowatt was badly wounded and was evacuated to 8 Casualty Clearing Station. His father received the following telegram dated the 14th of April 1917:
“Regret to inform you report dated April thirteenth states that Lt O. Mowatt 10 Hussars has been wounded. Details sent when received.”

On the 22nd of April 1917 he received a further telegram:
“Regret to inform you Lt O. Mowatt 10th Hussars in No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station dangerously wounded condition grave. Regret permission to travel cannot be permitted. Further reports when received.”
Oswald Mowatt died in the early morning of the 22nd of April 1917. His father received a final telegram dated the 23rd of April 1917:
“Deeply regret to inform you Lt O. Mowatt 10th Hussars died of wounds April 22nd. The Army Council express their sympathy.”

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