2nd Devons and the Croix de Guerre

[Graye]

My grandfather, Walter Brown (born 1899) was in the 2nd Devonshire Regiment.  He was injured on 29 May 1918 and taken prisoner three days later.  He spent the rest of the war in the medical areas of two POW camps in Poland.

We have his usual medals but there is an empty box and also an envelope with "A message from the King" on the front.  I think the envelope might have been part of a general letter all soldiers got at the end of the war but I'm intrigued by the empty box.  I know that very few of the 2nd Devons survived the Bois des Buttes at the end of May 1918 and I also know that they regiment was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French for their actions.  So I'm wondering if the individual soldiers also received the same medal and the empty box is connected to that?  Does anyone know if a regiment is awarded an honour like that whether the individual soldiers receive the same?  If so, does anyone know how many were awarded for that particular action?

Thanks in advance...

[sdparker]

Only about 12  British units were awarded the Croix de Guerre in WW1. The medal was awarded to the unit- not to be worn by

individual soldiers. When the medal was awarded twice to a unit, individual soldiers were entitled to wear a Fourragiere-a small

lanyard. The 2nd Battalion The Devonshire Regiment were given a shoulder flash made from the green and red medal ribbon

for the CdG , to be worn on both sleeves, below the shoulder title.

The citation for this award was in a Special Order No4 on 11th July 1918 by Major B L Montgomery of 1X Corps-later General

Montgomery of WW2 fame!

As you already know, the action was for its exploits at Bois des Buttes on the Aisne on 27th May 1918.

The citation lists the battalion strength as 28 officers, and 552 nco's and men.

Your empty box may have contained the CdG medal ribbon shoulder flashes.

Information from The Bulletin, Military History Society , November 1973

Regards

Geoff

[Graye]

That's fantastic information, thanks so much for that!  I think the battalion was very much smaller after 27th May, I know many were lost.

My cousin and I recently drove to Strasbourg and passed close by the Bois de Buttes.  It was an interesting experience for us, although no signs now of where this took place...