A historic Military Medal, for action on the 10th/ 11th November 1918 – 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers.

Description A historic Military Medal, for action on the last day of the war, 10th/ 11th November 1918 – 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers.  Military Medal (Geo V) 41422 Pte A. Fairclough. 5/Lan. Fus.; British War and Victory Medals, 41422 Pte A. Fairclough. Lan. Fus. Alfred Fairclough was born in Tyldesley, Wigan. His MIC confirms his entitlement to a pair only, and medal rolls show serving only in the 2/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. Military Medal, London Gazette 20th October 1919 The 2/5th were formed at Bury on the 9th September 1914. The joined the 3rd Highland Brigade, Highland Division, and landed at Boulogne on the 12th May 1915. The regimental history records the events on the 10th / 11th November 1918,(Pages 443-444) When near Leuze companies under Captains Broadbent, Waterhouse, Walsh and Wilson  were to attack and capture bridges on the Dendre river and its canal.  Following fighting overnight the patrols reached ground east of Ath soon after 8-00am, with orders being received at 10-15, that an armistice came into force at 11-00am. Extract from the Regimental History: “The distinction of being the last battalion of the Regiment to be in action in the war fell to the 2nd/5th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. Brighten, D.S.O.). It was pulled out of the line on 26th October to be the infantry of a column of all arms called “Stockwell’s Force” after the commander of 164th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier-General C. I. Stockwell, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. Till 8th November the column trained for quick pursuit of the enemy. It concentrated immediately west of Tournai on 9th November; and at I p.m. on that day began its advance, the advanced guard being commanded by Major J. R. Bodington, M.C., of the znd/5th Battalion. The cavalry of the Force met German opposition about two miles west of Leuze. The Force halted for the night, two companies of the 2nd/5th providing the outposts. Next day, roth November, the 9th Cavalry Brigade took over the duties of advanced guard and, after brushing aside slight opposition on each side of Leuze, succeeded in reaching the western outskirts of Ath before it was held up at 12.35 p.m. by strong resistance all along the line of the Dendre river and its canal. The 2nd/5th were ordered to attack and capture the bridges leading into Ath from the south-west. “C” (Captain C. V. Broadbent, M.C.) and “D” (Captain H. Waterhouse) Companies were detailed for the task, with “A” (Captain G. Walsh, M.C.) and “B” (Captain L. A. Wilson) in support. Orders for this operation were not given till so late that, to attack before dark, the battalion had to take the direct road over a skyline to its assembly position instead of a covered but longer way. It was spotted and came under heavy shelling and machine-gun fire which caused casualties to men and transport. Wilson showed conspicuous gallantry: though he was in full view of the Germans and his horse was twice wounded under him, he coolly reorganized his men and led them to more sheltered positions. Captain K. E. Wheeler, the battalion intelligence officer, also distinguished himself by making repeated journeys through the shelling in his endeavours to establish a forward battalion headquarters. The attack was launched at 3 p.m.; but the leading companies were soon held up by machine-gun fire, and “A” and “B” fared no better when they later tried to take up the task, being met with fire from trench mortars with a flat trajectory. Parties succeeded, however, in working from house to house, largely under Waterhouse’s leadership, till they gained the western bank of the canal. The battalion was then left on that line as outposts for the night with the intention that they should hold the enemy frontally while other troops attacked on the next day, though the 2nd/5th were ordered to try to force a crossing during the night or early in the morning. During the advance, Waterhouse and Wheeler had, under great difficulties, performed an act of mercy in putting in a place of safety a seriously wounded officer. “C” and “D” Companies pressed the enemy all night. They found two iron bridges intact, on the two roads leading from Ath to Peruwelz south of the town. The northern of the two bridges was barricaded and mined. But, again under Waterhouse’s skilful leadership, a Lewis gun was mounted in a house close to the bridge and by 7 a.m. the Germans driven from the latter before they were able to blow it up. The barricade was destroyed and the troops crossed into Ath. The Germans withdrew all along the line and were closely followed. They were hustled over a bridge on the eastern outskirts of the town without being given time to destroy it. Patrols of the battalion reached the high ground east of Ath soon after 8 a.m. At I0.15 a.m. orders were received that an armistice came into force at II a.m., when Lieutenant-Colonel Brighten announced the news to the overjoyed inhabitants of the town his battalion had freed. The troops were ready for a rest. In eighty days they had covered fifty miles. In the final stages they covered considerable distances each day and found outposts at night. They carried their packs but kept up with mounted and more lightly equipped units without a man falling out. The 2nd/5th indeed ended the war as it began-marching long distances with full kit. The following decorations were awarded for these operations:— Military Cross – Captain H. Waterhouse. Captain K. E. Wheeler. Captain L. A. Wilson. Military Medal – Company Quartermaster-Serjeant F. Taylor.; Company Serjeant-Major T. Clough.; Lance-Corporal J. D. Chambers.; Lance-Corporal J. W. Smith.; Private E. Butterworth.; Private A. Fairclough.; Private W. C. Gower.; Private H. Green.; Private T. Greenwood.” Condition – GVF NOTE: Sorry we cannot accept payment by PayPal for this item, We can accept payment by Credit / Debit Card, Bank Transfer or Cheque.