Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

The Great War P.O.W. group of four medals to Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Arthur Stewart-Cox, Royal Artillery, who was wounded and taken prisoner during the retreat from Mons, August 1914: 1914 Star and Bar (LIEUT: A. STEWART-COX. R.F.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches emblem (CAPT. A. STEWART-COX.); War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued; together with a mounted group of corresponding dress miniatures, nearly extremely fine, full size medals with replacement ribbons.

Born in 1888, the recipient served with the British Expeditionary Force in France, 1914, and was part of the section of 118th Battery, 26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery which was ordered to support the men of the 2nd Battalion Munster Fusiliers in their celebrated rearguard action at Etreux, 27th August 1914. This tiny force, comprising approximately three and a half companies of the Munsters, two guns from 118 battery, and a handful of others, delayed the advance of an entire German Corps in fourteen hours of fierce fighting, surrendering only when compelled to by the exhaustion of their ammunition. The artillery were called upon to work their guns with no cover and in close proximity to the enemy, and suffered heavy casualties - among them Lieutenant Stewart-Cox, who was wounded and taken prisoner.

See lot 41 for the medals to this officer's son