Description
Great War Memorial Plaque to Walter Blagg Gething M.I.D. 9th Squadron Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) who was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918 at Hervilly Wood, north west of St Quentin.
Memorial Plaque named to WALTER BLAGG GETHING, presented in waxed card case of issue. Sold with a genuine Machine Gun Corps cap badge and the excellent book titled Herbert Columbine VC by Carole McEntee-Taylor. As well as being a tribute book to the individual this book gives a comprehensive account of the 9th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry). “The 9th Squadron became the machine gun section supporting the 15th and 19th Hussars and the 1/1 Bedfordshire Yeomanry, all of whom were part of the 1st Cavalry Division”
Gething is one of 10 members of 9th Squadron Machine Gun Corps to be killed in this action near Montigny Farm, Bois du Croix and Hervilly, on this day. This significant date is the date of the Victoria Cross action of Herbert Columbine, also of 9th Squadron Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) who was also killed during this particular engagement of the German Spring Offensive on March 22, 1918, near Hervilly Wood, France.
Gething and Columbine VC are amongst those 10 members of 9th Squadron(listed below) MGC killed in action on this day. The war diary summarises the action, the loss of guns and crews and the loss of life but, in the fog of war, none of the 10 killed are named.
The 9th Squadron War Diary for the 22nd records:
“Remainder of Squadron “stood to” up to 1 a.m. and then moved to Montigny Farm. Horses were handed over with the exception of pack horses. The guns on pack with complete teams left Montigny Farm at 3 a.m. and proceeded to Bois-du-Croix, (2nd Lieut Mount with 2 guns with escort from 8th Hussars moved to Jeancourt.). At 9 a.m. enemy shelled the wood and adjacent fields vigorously and the Squadron held on until orders were received from the 9th Cavalry Bde, to make a detour and form up for a counter attack with machine gun support on the village of Hervilly. Guns were disposed in conjunction with the attacking forces with the exception of one gun which commanded the high ground. During this counter attack one gun was lost to the enemy after the whole team were killed or wounded with the exception of two men who put the gun out of action. One other gun was destroyed by shellfire. Later the Squadron retired through the Brown Line to the Green Line where the gun teams dug themselves into position…….”
The War Diary of 9th Squadron Machine Gun Corps had previously noted Haig’s Mention in Despatches to Gething appearing in the London Gazette 14th January 1918
Commonwealth War Grave
Private WALTER BLAGG GETHING, Mentioned in Despatches, Service Number: 51889
9th Sqdn., Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) who died on 22 March 1918 Age 26
Son of Walter and Florence Gething, of Lichfield; husband of Rose Gething, of Lockwood, Saskatchewan, Canada.
He is Remembered with Honour at the POZIERES MEMORIAL
Victoria Cross citation to Herbert George Columbine
On 22 March 1918, the day after the opening of the German Spring offensive, Private H G Columbine was part of a machine-gun crew in an exposed position in Hervilly Wood, east of Hervilly, north-west of St Quentin.
Herbert George COLUMBINE Private, 9th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps, 9th Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
Victoria Cross Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice displayed, when, owing to casualties, Pte. Columbine took over command of a gun and kept it firing from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. in an isolated position with no wire in front. During this time wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him. Owing to his being attacked by a low-flying aeroplane the enemy at last gained a strong footing in the trench on either side. The position being untenable he ordered the two remaining men to get away, and, though being bombed from either side, kept his gun firing and inflicting tremendous losses. He was eventually killed by a bomb which blew up him and his gun. He showed throughout the highest valour, determination and self-sacrifice.
Seventh Supplement to The London Gazette of 30 April 1918. 3 May 1918, Numb. 30667, p. 5354
Columbine’s body was never recovered but he is also commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.
The 10 members of 9th Sqdn. Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) Killed in Action at Hervilly 22/03/1918
50650 Lance Corporal GEORGE ALLMAN
50766 Private GEORGE AYLING
50767 Serjeant ARTHUR JOHN AYLWIN Military Medal
51889 Private WALTER BLAGG GETHING Mentioned in Despatches
50731 Private HAROLD JAMES
50661 Private JOHN ALFRED LLOYD
50654 Private HENRY JOHN DAY
50720 Private HERBERT GEORGE COLUMBINE Victoria Cross
47071 Private WALTER ALFRED MAYTUM
50736 Lance Corporal JULIAN FREDERICK SISSEN
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