Lot 307
A HERTS YEO-4th TANK CORPS MC GROUP OF FOUR MEDALS.
A cased GV Military Cross, unnamed as issued. A 1914/15 Star named to 1663 Pte E W Andrews Herts.Yeo. British War & Victory Medals named to Captain E W Andrews. An original letter dated 20 Mar 1921 from The Secretary C2A Investitures . War Office. S W 1.
'The Secretary of the War Office presents his compliments to Capt E W Andrews and begs to inform him that the Military Cross awarded by His Majesty the King in recognition of the valuable services rendered, is being forwarded herewith by registered post.
It is requested that the enclosed formal receipt may be filled in, and returned to this office as early as possible.
Edward William Andrews served in Egypt with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, from the 5th November 1914.
Commissioned into the Machine Gun Corps on the 25th March 1917. Later as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion The Tank Corps, thence Temporary Captain.
His address was given for his medals as 23 Thorne Road, Doncaster. His E F G was returned 11/12/1924.
His immediate award of the Military Cross, is taken from the Tank Corps Book of Honour. Immediate Awards Officers page 151.
T 2/Lieut Ernest William Andrews 4th Battalion. Awarded MC
This officer showed great initiative and courage in action on Aug 8. When near Groates and Corbeau trenches, east of Morgomont Wood, he got out of his Tank under heavy machine-gun fire to enquire in what manner he could best assist the infantry. He then proceeded to deal with several hostile machine-guns which were offering great opposition; when four of his crew had been wounded, he himself alternately manned the 6-pounder and Hotchkiss guns. After overcoming this opposition his Tank advance to Lemaire Wood, where several machine-guns were dealt with in the standing crops; it continued in action until it received a direct hit, after which only one member of the crew remained unwounded. Even after his Tank was hit this officer continued to fire his 6-pndr guns.
His Military Cross was gazetted in issue 13145 on the 7th November 1918.
On the advance of some 500 Tanks during the 8th August, now known as the Battle of Amiens, many hitherto German positions or strongpoints fell rapidly. Of those Tanks that took part, some (6) were left in full working order, within (4) days. One German General labelled it; 'The Black Day of the German Army'. It was the start of the end of the German ambitions and their will power in The Great War. 'The War to end all Wars'.
See Illustration
