AN IMPORTANT, RARE & DESIRABLE, SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY (“BATTLE of CAMBRAI CASUALTY”)

Battle of Le Transloy, Butte de Warlencourt, 12th October 1916

MILITARY CROSS & 1914-15 TRIO, (With Bi-Lingual Victory)

To:
Captain P.R. STAPLETON, 1st S.A. Infy. CARNARVON COMMANDO.

With Superb Uniformed Photo.

2nd Lt-CAPTAIN PERCY RYLAND STAPLETON.
1st REGIMENT, SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY.
(CARNARVON COMMANDO)

KILLED IN ACTION, 8th DECEMBER 1917.




1914-15 Star,
British War Medal,
Victory Medal
(South African bilingual version).


[BIOGRAPHY]
With a superb uniformed picture of Captain Stapleton.

Percy Stapleton was born in South Africa and he studied at Bishop's Diocesan College near Cape Town and is on the college role of honour. Percy Ryland Stapleton was killed in action on 8th December 1917.

He had been awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in October 1917 during an earlier action on the Somme.

Captain Stapleton earned an excellent "fighting citation" for his Military Cross.

[CITATION] MILITARY CROSS.
London Gazette: 10th January 1917]

For the Battle of Le Transloy and the Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt.

2nd Lt. Percy Ryland Stapleton, South African Infantry.

“For conspicuous gallantry in action. Although in an isolated position he collected six men, killed ten of the enemy and captured nineteen prisoners. He set a splendid example of courage and coolness throughout."

The action is also described in "South African Forces In France",with a photocopy of the relevant page being included.

[THE ACTION of CAPTAIN STAPLETON’S MILITARY CROSS AWARD]

Battle of Le Transloy

At The Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt.

The Carnarvon Commando were at High Wood on 9th October 1916.

Three days later on the 12th October in appalling conditions of weather and ground they made an attack against Snag and Tail Trenches which were just to the south of the Butte. The rainstorms of the previous days had turned the ground into a sea of mud so deep that moving 1,000 yards took four hours.

The trenches were in a position just short of the ancient burial mounds at Butte de Warlencourt. Again, there was severe fighting that was continued with a renewed attack in the same area on 18th October.

The cost to the South Africans in this impossible and dismal affair was 1,150 casualties.

The 1st South African Infantry Lewis gun team was the only South African party to reach the objective and apart from these few Lewis Gunners and a few wounded stragglers, the rest of the men of the centre and right-hand A & B companies, of some 200 men, totally disappeared and have no known graves.

“From across the valley the enemy had magnificent observation of the ground leading to our objective, and made full use of it... not a man turned back, and some got right up under the Butte, but they were not seen again”— Alan Maude

It was thought that the South Africans actually overran Snag Trench, which due to artillery bombardment was completely unrecognisable.

After overshooting the position they were cut down by the withering hail of enemy machine-gun fire which was being directed at the Butte.

A few of the stragglers returned later in the day with 19 German prisoners under guard. The left flank C company was stopped by uncut wire and then caught by enemy machine-gun fire, which inflicted many more casualties. The remaining troops which included 2/Lt Stapleton then retired to the British front line.

Furse ordered another attack for 5:45 p.m. and issued orders for the main German strong point of The Nose to be bombarded, before the South Africans captured it and formed a trench block 500 yards up Tail Trench.

In 1917 the brigade took part in the Battle of Arras and in the Third Battle of Ypres. In the latter battle, in a successful advance at Bremen Redoubt near Zonnebeke, Private William Hewitt of 2nd Regiment won the VC.

[SUMMARY]
This is one of the rarest and most important Military Cross casualty groups we’ve ever had the privilege to offer. South African Gallantry groups are ultra thin on the ground, so to locate an S.A. Gallantry group for the famous action at Butte de Warlencourt is an exceptional situation.

With its major sacrifices, this battle is a classic event in the history of the nation.

The fact that the then 2nd Lt Percy Stapleton survived the attack when thousands of his fellows perished, is testimony to his great valour, sprinkled with much good luck.

Sadly, Percy did not survive the war and was Killed in Action on 8th December 1917, on the very last day at the Battle of Cambrai. He is buried at Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, France.

British & allied casualties in the 18 days from 20 November – 8 December were an horrific 47,596. Captain Percy Ryland Stapleton was one of them.

A Totally Outstanding Group to a Gallant Officer Casualty who served with the seldom encountered unit of the CARNARVON COMMANDO.

The Military Cross is “Mint” in Original case and the Trio is in original uncleaned EF+ with original silk & cotton ribbons.














A Superb Group fit for the finest collection.

£2750 with Quality Part-Exchanges Welcome.

Call us on 01342-870960
Or email on DRAGONBRIT77@GMAIL.COM