WW1 military Cross Group. 18th Essex Regiment. in Gallantry & honours

WW1 Military Cross Group. Military Cross WW1 unnamed as issued, 1914/15 Star 3049 Pte. G.E. Cattermole. Essex Regiment, British War Medal, 3049 A/WO Class 1 G.E Cattermole Essex Regiment. Victory Medal M.I.D A/WO Class 1. G.E. Cattermole. Essex Regiment. 1939/45 War Medal W30405 G.E Cattermole, Australian 1939 /45 War Medal W30405 G.E Cattermole. Mounted swing style as worn on original old faded ribbons, medals in lovely condition and are toned having not been polished for many years, and I have left them as such. An unusual combination of medals. A lot of research comes with medals, including a lovely copied picture of George in Australia wearing his medals. And a newspaper article describing trench raid, etc. George Edward Cattermole born 3rd February 1876, Kenton, Middlesex. In 1891 George was a 15 year old errand boy, 5ft 3 tall, brown hair with grey eyes. On 29th November 1891 he joined the Royal Navy at Chatham, Kent. His first ship was HMS Impregnable, serving on many ships. ( see Naval History sheet.) He served over 12 Years. On 12th December 1901 he left the Royal Navy and was now 5ft 8′ and had a scar to his right eye. George married Mary Hillier in July 1903 at Hendon, Middlesex, and had four sons. In 1911 they lived at East Ham, Essex and he was employed as Assistant Superintendent for a life insurance company. In 1914, at the outbreak of WW1 on 20th August 1914 George rejoined the Royal Navy. This was not enough and he transferred from the Royal Navy at the rank of 1st Class P.O. On 22nd September 1915 for active service with 13th Essex Regiment in France on 17th November 1915 as a Private. George had rapid promotion, Sergeant Major G.E. Cattermole was issued the Military Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry in July 1916 The Somme. At some stage adding a Mentioned In Dispatches. Later transferred to the 32nd Royal Fusiliers. Re numbered 51397. Having survived the 1st World War. George left the Army and on 26th June 1923 on the Ship ‘ Largs Bay’ emigrated with his wife and four sons to Fremantle, Australia. WW2 sees George Cattermole enlisting in 1939 in the 2nd Australian Infantry from 1940-1943 and he continued to serve until 1948 in Ascot Western Australia. During this period George lost his son Alfred Cattermole (1905-1942. Killed WW2 ? ). On 17th November 1950 he lost his wife Mary who predeceased him. And another son John Cattermole on 27th June 1951 in Essex. George Cattermole died 1966 Perth, Western Australia. A very gallant and brave man, a true Victorian who did much in the Royal Navy and Army during the two world Wars. The Somme 1916 Military Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry July 1916/ Mentioned In Dispatches. George in a letter home very modestly describes the action thus: ‘ I took a few of my boys out with me on July 1st to visit our friends across the way. We killed 40 and I collared the only one left, as a prisoner. It was hot while it lasted, but all came through without a scratch.’ He was informed on 11th July 1916 he was to receive the Military Cross, and on 17th Wrote ‘ To-morrow I face the music to receive it, I’d rather be in the front line. The letter home giving the news was written with the same modesty. He writes: ‘ Dear Mam and Dad we are very busy doing damage to other people. We carried out a raid on 1st and ‘outed ‘ about 40 of em’. I secured the only prisoner, tomorrow I receive the Military Cross. I thought you would like to know, forgive me for not written, I get minutes few and far between, ‘They are like Gold now.’ George Cattermole was 30years old at this time.