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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 341

An outstanding 'Trench Raid' M.C. group of eight awarded to 2nd Lieutenant J. F. Thoburn, 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, later Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Army Service Corps

Thoburn was photographed alongside his comrades before going into action and also wrote at length regarding the action which won his decoration

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. F. Thoburn.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, Territorial, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1947', good very fine (8)

M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919:

'When the enemy, in a determined counter-attack, gained a footing in our trenches this Officer led his men over the top and attacked those who had got through the wire, killing several, dispersing the remainder, and capturing a machine-gun and trench mortar. The confidence inspired in his men by his example restored a critical situation.'

Jack Fancourt Thoburn enlisted into the Honourable Artillery Company on 17 April 1916 and served in France with the 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion (as No. 7455) from 18 November 1916. Sharing in the action at Bucquoy in February 1917, he was wounded in action. Thoburn was subsequently commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade, serving with the 13th Battalion in France from March 1918. He earned his outstanding M.C. for his actions on 12-13 September, when a Trench Raid captured the enemy positions around Havrincourt Wood. Poison shells were sent down and a heavy counter came the following evening. Thoburn was photographed with his comrades before going into action and also wrote of his experiences:

'I am off in an hour's time to the line, Captain Jenkins and Wallis are going with me for which I am awfully glad. We three are great chums. You know that since I have been a soldier I have passed through some awfully rough times and most trying experiences, especially in the earlier stages of the war, and I am by now pretty used to being knocked about : but going again into the thick of the fighting gives one a strange sensation - an indescribable feeling - going up to face death, but one must not think of that, the same Mighty Power that kept me all through those awful Somme battles, can still keep me. I'm just going to do my duty to the very best of my ability - my safety lies in Higher Hands. God knows what I have done in the last few days. I must tell you a little of what I have been doing, in myself I am quite fit, but very tired. My hands are cut up with innumerable cuts, my feet are shooting with pain from not taking my boots off for so long, but we are all in the same boat and are feeling quite happy. It is a lovely sunny day and quite warm, all our company officers are squatting outside our little dugout writing home.

Now as some time has elapsed since these episodes, I think I can give you a few details of my adventures without in any way falling foul of my duties as a censor. One comes to my mind - We were leading the Company up, preparatory to "going over the top". Wood (the Coy Commander) and myself were trying to find our way in a wood, it was pitch dark. Wood went first and he suddenly disappeared, the next moment I followed him, falling about twenty feet through bushes, thorns and brambles. At the bottom I stumbled to my feet, breathless with the fall and choked with the gas from the shells that the Boches were firing around us. I heard Wood's voice for a moment and then I lost him - I got caught among the barbed wire - round and round I ploughed until I heard to my immense relief Davis' voice. We lay there together, our men just behind us waiting for the moment. Just like a cyclone it came, with one terrific roar our barrage breaks - then clear and distinct above the rumble of the guns came the sharp crack of the Machine guns - then over we went, and did some quick work. The prisoners came trooping up in groups. I came upon a party of young boys, they were terror stricken - up went their hands the moment they saw me and actually cried like babies. Two of our officers were killed, it was awfully hard luck, they were both such jolly good chaps, one of them was married. In consequence of their death, Hunter and I went to their company to help them and which meant we were very unfortunate, because we had to do the work of both companies. When "C" Coy was in, we were, and when "D" Coy was in, we were also, getting no respite from fighting.

I enclose two ribbons - the black and white is the Iron Cross, the other ribbon is foreign, probably Turkish. I cut them from the tunic of a Boche Machine gunner - with his gun he held me up for some time doing a good deal of damage. He it was who killed our two officers, anyhow he was dead when I got up to him and these ribbons were his decorations; he was an intelligent looking fellow and looked quite peaceful in death.

In one of the captured trenches we had a meal off German bread and sausage, the bread was damp, heavy and nearly black - the sausage reminded me of the German Mail and their uncooked dainties. Some tried the Boche wine, but the general verdict was that it was like methylated spirits. We found some good cigars and it was really amusing to see all our men swaggering about with cigars in their mouths. But there was more serious work ahead. The afternoon of the attack I had come off duty in the advance line and was lying down at Coy Headquarters - when there was a cry, "the Boches are coming", I sprang up and rushing along by a way that I know, gained the front line. There I found Hunter with some men retiring down the trench and some twenty yards away the Germans were coming down toward us. Our men were a bit windy, but Hunter and I made them make a stand and fetch bombs. Hunter is a fine bomber, so he threw the bombs, while I carried on with a borrowed rifle and my revolver. We retired very slowly - the Boches were chucking their bombs. These bombs of theirs make an awful row, but don't do much damage unless you get too close to one. Unfortunately they had also got some of ours, which are of a different calibre. I was bringing up the rear as we retired, and was having quite a pretty little duel with the Hun Serg. Major who was leading their attack - he evidently wanted me as a prisoner, for every time we faced each other round a traverse he signed and shouted to me to put my hands up. Of course my only answer was revolver ammunition, it was not likely that I was going to put my hands up to a Boche. Well at last we got to a fair stock of bombs, so we made a halt and bombed steadily. Hunter stands 6 ft 4 in and throws bombs magnificently. This went on for about twenty minutes, and then we found that we were not being answered, so we decided to advance. First of the party came myself with my revolver - then came Hunter with bombs and one or two men. We went round two traverses then we came upon two Huns. The first was the Serg. Major - dead, the next was a young lad, he had been hit in the hand and had a nasty gash in his head. As this poor lad saw me he tried to collect himself but he was far too gone, I can see his bloodshot eyes now as he tried to raise his head - on the other side of the trench was a Boche officer, dead, As we advanced we found quite a number of dead, we had done better than anticipated - we made a rush and took six machine guns, one Minnen-werfer and coil of telephone wire. So we had managed to stop rather a large counter attack. The "D" Company Commander sent in a very good report to Battalion Headquarters about our work, which was encouraging. The Corporal and two men who backed us up have been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. I have written but bald facts, of course there is much more but I must not tell just yet.

The German Planes are overhead, one has just been brought down in flames, whereat we cheered mightily.

You would be greatly interested in my whereabouts, if you but know where I was. It was in a famous wood where Hunter and I were the two officers who led the men who stopped the Boches in that severe counter attack. It was there that I had the long duel with the big Hun Serg. Major, and by God's help won.

I have seen very many places and things lately, and such bravery by our wonderful soldiers, they are a marvel. But each town and village we retake from the Hun, it is cruel, it is devilish, the devastations. I am fit and well and so far unhit. Please give my "tabeks" to all my Singapore and FMS [Federated Malay States] friends. I feel it an honour to serve my King and country, and them all.' (Singapore Free Press 22 November 1918, refers)

Thoburn took up work as Secretary to the M.P. for Westminster Abbey and was living with his wife at Sloane Court East during the early 1930s. His name made it into the newspapers when he disappeared without trace in May 1931. Having eventually returned home, he gave no explanation but continued to slope off in the coming months. A divorce followed in February 1932, when it was found he was visiting a lover in a hotel on Bloomsbury Street. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to the fold and rose to become a Lieutenant-Colonel, earning his T.D. in 1947, before being retired the following year. Thoburn died in 1976; sold together with several original images and copied research.


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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1200