Lot 131
Prisoner of War at Mons ‡
Clandestine Operations - Inc The D.J. Croll Medal Collection & Other Properties | M26002
Auction: 16 September 2026 at 10.30 BST
Description
The 1914 Star awarded to Serjeant Edward W. Turner, 1st Battalion Royal West Kent’s who was taken Prisoner of War the German Records saying at St. Ghislain. The 1st Battalion Royal West Kent’s were in Action at St Ghislain on the 23rd of August 1914 comprising 1914 Star, entitled to Aug – Nov Clasp, (L-6489 Sjt E.W. Turner. 1/R. W. Kent R.), very fine (1)
The Medal Index Card for Serjeant Turner states “PoW 9/12/15 The Battalion that Day is in Reserve Trenches at Carnoy, most Companies in Reserve Trenches which were shelled at 12 noon by a light Mortar. But after a Search no PoW records were found for him. It would appear that at the time the International Red Cross mis-transcribed his number as 6849 when he is 6489. There is no Medal Index Card for a man named Turner with the No.6849.
1st Battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
22nd of August 1914
“C” and “D” Companies took up positions on the Mons-Conde Canal, north and north-east of St Ghislain “C” at the road bridge “D” on the railway crossing. “A” Company came forward from Hornu on the 23rd of August. Crossed Canal and engaged advancing enemy from cross roads south of Tetre.
The German writer Walter Bloem, 12th Brandenburg Grenadier Regiment recorded in his book, The Advance from Mons, 1914, how he saw the 1st Royal West Kents coming on – “ The Brandenburgers deployed and advanced by rushes, fired at by an always invisible foe and losing men every time they rise…. The enemy seems to have waited for the moment for the general assault. He had fully enticed us to close range and in thick swathes of deadly fire was pumped on or heads, breast and knees., Wherever I looked, to the right and left, nothing but dead, and blood-streaming, sobbing, writhing wounded.”
However, one German Register states that he was Captured at St Ghislain, near Mons. It would appear, that, he was not posted in the UK as a PoW until the 9th of December 1915; presumably being posted as “Missing” due to the incorrect recording of his Service Number. He was held at Quedlingburg, then Hameln Prison Camps. He was Discharged from the Army on the 3rd of April 1919 and his Pension Card states “Dead - 23rd of May 1927”
Sold with Copy Medal Index Card, Copy PoW register entry, Copy Repatriation List, Copy War Diary 12 December 1915 extract Ray West Lake British Battalion on France and Belgium 1914. Copy Pension Cards
