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The text is flanked by regimental standards (on the right) betreffende de Weermacht van Nederland en Koloniën (1813-heden and a collection of shakos, swords and other military (a reference work on Dutch medals). Reprint of 1973 of the Annual Reviews of 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936 and 1940 of the Royal accessories (on the left). The corners show battle scenes Netherlands Numismatic Society, A.G. van der Dussen B.V., involving the four main army units of the infantry (top Maastricht 1973, pages 25-33. left), the cavalry (top right), the artillery (bottom left) and Colenbrander, H. T. De Bataafsche republiek Amsterdam: Meulenhoff the engineers (bottom right). The certificates were signed & Co, 1908. by the Minister of War General J.W. Blanken. Colenbrander, H. T. Schimmelpenninck en Koning Lodewijk. Amsterdam: Meulenhoff & Co, 1911. Contemporary Dutch newspapers: Algemeen Handelsblad of 3 The certificate shown in Figure 6 was awarded to the April 1891, 14 August 1896, Dagblad van Zuid Holland en retired 1st Lieutenant Nicolas Cornelius Smith who ’s-Gravenhage of 28 June 1865, 20 October 1865 and 16 December was born on October 10, 1796 in the city of Leiden. He 1865, Leydse Courant of 17 May 1865. Dutch National Archives, The Hague, The Netherlands: military joined the army in 1814 and was promoted to the rank of records of army officers, section 2.13.09- documents 702, 704, Corporal in that same year. Smith served with the 10th 707, 711, 726, 727, 732, 734, 736, 741. Battalion, National Militia during the military campaign Hardenberg, H. Het Nationaal Feest te Leiden ter eere van oud- in northern France that followed immediately after the strijders van de jaren 1813 en 1815, en ter viering van het halve battle of Waterloo. He was commissioned in 1816 and eeuwfeest der Militaire Willemsorde op den 27 junij 1865. 1865. Municipal archives of the city of The Hague, section 0161-01. promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in 1828. Smith Uijterschout, I. L. Beknopt overzicht van de belangrijkste served as an officer with the Dutch 9th Infantry Regiment gebeurtenissen uit de Nederlandsche krijgsgeschiedenis van during the Belgian War for Independence (1830-1832) 1568 tot heden, 2de herziende druk, De Gebroeders van Cleef, and was honorably discharged in 1836. Den Haag 1935, pages 229-232, 276-277. Miniature Medals IN THE NEWS Miniatures are known to exist in various widths including 22mm, 17mm, 15mm, 12mm and 11mm. There are also miniatures that measure only 9mm in width with the year 1814 instead of 1815. These were probably privately made by jewellers on special commission from officers who had only served between 1814 and 1815. Societies of Recipients of the 1813-1815 Silver Cross Soon after the awards were made societies of veterans that had received the 1813-1815 Silver Cross were established. The Hague was the first city to have such a society that was founded in September 1865. Its committee consisted of Mr. C. Schiffer van Bleiswijk as chairman and Mr. A.D.J. Mioulet as secretary. Colonel D.J. van Winsheym who is shown in Figure 2 later became a member of the society’s committee. As other cities set Pentagon to Review Denial of Medal of Honor up local branches, the The Hague committee took on for World War I Jewish Soldier the role as overarching committee for the nation-wide society in December 1865. Field Marshall Prince William In December 2014 President Obama signed a National Frederick Charles of Orange-Nassau became patron Defence Authorization Act that contained a provision of the society. As the veterans got older, membership for a Pentagon review of Jewish soldiers and sailors steadily decreased. The society lost its life-long patron who may have been denied the Medal of Honor because in September 1881 and was dissolved in May 1885. Its of their faith. The driving force behind this act was the last member W. Schmidt died in April 1891 at the age of daughter of Sergeant William Shemin, a 19-year-old, 94. The memory of those veterans lives on in the medals World War I recipient of the Distinguished Service we now cherish in our collections. Cross, whom she, and others, believe was denied the medal because he was Jewish. References: From the Tampa Bay Times Bax, W. F. Ridderorden, eereteekenen, draagteekens en penningen, Submitted by Peter Hlinka 32 JOMSA THE STORY OF A SIMPLE WORLD WAR I TRIO BARNEY MATTINGLY lived comfortably in the Fulham district of west London, near the family’s factory. After attending school locally, Harry and his younger brother, Leslie Davenport Gotts, enlisted together on March 6, 1913, in the 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Figure 2). More commonly referred to as the Westminster Dragoons, they were reformed in 1901 from the Westminster Volunteer Cavalry and were one of four County of London Yeomanry regiments. Not surprisingly, Harry and his brother were mobilized at the beginning of World War I, being recalled for active service on August 5, 1914. Figure 1: The 1914-1915 Star trio issued to 2nd Lieutenant Harry Davenport Gotts. Collectors naturally gravitate towards the more exotic items in their hobbies. The rare, expensive, and historically significant tend to gather the limelight while items deemed ordinary sometimes are overlooked. Gallantry decorations, famous campaigns, and rare combinations have the greatest appeal to many medal enthusiasts. However, even the most mundane named medals are unique and, if enough research information is available, can have interesting and compelling stories. This story is about a common British 1914-15 Star trio Figure 2: Harry Davenport Gotts in the of medals (Figure 1): uniform of the Westminster Dragoons. 1914-15 Star impressed to 1628 L.CPL. H.D. World War I started slowly for the Westminster Dragoons. GOTTS. 2ND. CO. OF LOND. Y. Their first overseas station was in Egypt to relieve British War Medal impressed to 2.LIEUT. H.D. the 3rd Dragoon Guards of garrison duty, freeing that GOTTS. cavalry regiment for deployment to France. The Gotts Victory Medal impressed to 2.LIEUT. H.D. GOTTS. brothers embarked with the Westminster Dragoons from Southampton on September 10, disembarking at As indicated in the The Medal Yearbook, approximately Alexandria on September 28. The Khedive was by no 2,350,000 1914-15 Stars, 6,500,000 British War Medals, means an ally and a strong English presence was deemed and 6,000,000 Victory Medals were produced, making important. Indeed, the Khedive was soon deposed and them among the most common British medals. Yet replaced with his uncle, who was more sympathetic to precisely because they are named, it is possible to piece the British cause. together their unique story. The Westminster Dragoons were posted to the Abbassia Harry Davenport Gotts was born on January 19, 1890 in barracks in Cairo and settled in for several months of London, the oldest child of Henry T. and Sarah A. Gotts. quiet service, it being the official policy to downplay His father was a successful businessman and the family the battles raging in Europe in an attempt to minimize Vol. 66, No. 3 (May-June 2015) 33 unrest in the country. As a result, Cairo was a relatively Suvla Bay was a quagmire with tens of thousands of safe and pleasant overseas station, affording Harry and troops crammed into an area of only a few square miles. his brother numerous opportunities to enjoy the local Gotts landed with the rest of his regiment on “A” beach sights and temptations. It was during this period that in daylight under a slow but steady bombardment. Only Harry received his first promotion, to Lance Corporal, a shortage of ammunition prevented the Turks from on October 11. inflicting heavy casualties. Gotts and his brother dug in as best they could but the threat of shellfire was constant. When Britain and France declared war on Turkey on The ground offered little natural cover and the best spots November 5, Egypt officially became a war zone. As a were already taken by those who had previously arrived. result, Gott’s medal index card indicates that he entered the Egyptian theater on November 5 even though he The Gotts brothers remained on the beach for two days had arrived over a month before. From a practical before being ordered to Lala Baba, a 160-foot hill on the perspective, the declaration had no impact on his daily south side of Suvla Bay, on August 20. The brigade’s routine, which primarily consisted of tending horses and commanding officer, Brigadier General Julian Tyndale- regimental drill. Biscoe, countermanded the order to move in daylight, waiting until nightfall before making the mile-long The Westminster Dragoons were sent to Ismailia on march. Tyndale-Biscoe seemed one of the few rational February 3, 1915 to protect the Suez Canal. There had British generals present, and on more than one occasion been a battle a few days before but by the time they prevented the Turks from inflicting unnecessary losses arrived, all was quiet once again. Gotts rode out into the on his brigade. desert on several patrols that captured small parties of scattered Turkish forces. The enemy seemed genuinely Arriving at Lala Baba before the predawn hours of August pleased to surrender to the British and no gunfire was 21, the Westminster Dragoons burrowed into the rocky exchanged. ground as best they could to await further orders. These soon arrived and the Westminster Dragoons, along with Gotts’ thoughts at his lack of combat experience during the rest of the 2nd Mounted Division, were ordered to the first year of the war are not recorded, and one wonders make a daylight march across Salt Lake to Chocolate if he was happy to avoid the bloody battles raging in Hill.

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