Lt-Col ROUNDEL TRISTRAM COKE, 1st Welsh Regiment and 6th Bedfords.

[Guest]

I print here the lot details for a collection of papers of this soldier which are coming up for sale at Forum Auctions, London on 30th May 2019. I must stress that I have no commercial connections either to the auctioneers or the vendor and that I post these details merely to record that such materials exist and are out there somewhere.

 

First World War.- Toke (Roundel Tristram, Lt. Col., First Welsh Regiment & 6th Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, 1869-1957) 2 Diaries, autograph manuscripts,together titles and 205pp., 3 maps, some correspondence, maps and newspaper cuttings loosely inserted, browned, original cloth (not uniform), rubbed and slightly creased, sm. 4to, 1915; [Presentation of colours to the 1st Battalion the Welch Regiment] Photograph album "Presented to Maj.-Gen. W. Allan... on the Occasion of the Presentation of Colours by Field Marshal Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum... 1910",presentation inscription from J.H. Allan to Colonel Toke, 20 photographs, all laid down, original red morocco, gilt, g.e., oblong 4to, 1910; and 22 other photographs of the Welsh Regiment etc., all before the First World War, v.s., v.d. (sm. qty).

⁂ A detailed account of the war in the Ypres salient. Including a rare order to go into battle: "The attack will be renewed at 12.30 am without fail and pushed right through with the bayonet till our old line of trenches is regained."

"17th April [1915]. Marched up to the trenches. The Germans were shelling Ypres very heavily... . The big attack on hill 60 began at 7.p.m just as we were clear of Ypres. We opened a terrific bombardment from every available gun to which the Germans quickly replied... . We got very badly shelled on the road between Ypres and Potije one shell bursting right in the middle of the Battalion inflicting numerous casualties. Took over no 22 trench from Baxter of the 5th Fusiliers. Trenches very good and numerous dug-outs. Found the 5th Fusiliers had been driven out of a portion of one of the trenches. So crawled out with one of my men to reconnoitre. We came across several dead bodies of men of the 5th. Suddenly we came right on a party of Germans in the ruins of a house, they opened fire on us and one man threw a hand grenade at me which luckily burst in the air above my head. I was knocked down by the concussion but otherwise was not touched. Crawled back to our main trench followed by numerous bullets." - Toke.

[steve fuller]

That would be some good info to have access to - here's hoping that it finds its way to a Public Records office rather than being squirreled away in a private study somewhere

[Guest]

Well, as a knackered bookseller, I cannot foresee where it will go- but bear in mind that often nowadays materials that go to archives or record offices remains more inaccessible than that in private hands. There are plenty of collectors of Great War stuff who hoard, plenty who share their treasures willingly...but plenty of archives that obstruct, usually quoting unavailability until "catalogued".

   Perhaps we could all win the lottery this week...

[steve fuller]

   Perhaps we could all win the lottery this week...

Now that would be nice