Description
1914 Star Trio, 10500 Private later Sergeant Frank Hutchinson, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
Sergt Hutchinson was listed as wounded in action in the field on 14th March 1915, when the battalion was engaged in the intense fighting at Neuve Chapelle.
Swing mounted for wear on old ribbons, barely worn condition
Frank Hutchinson, was born in Kingston, Grantham, Lincolnshire circa 1883.
He attested for service with the Grenadier Guards having been a Baker on 30th September 1902.
He served at Home until his transfer to the 1st Class Army Reserve on 29th September 1905, when he returned to being a Baker.
Mobilised from the Army Reserve and on 7th November 1914 was transferred to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards from the 4th at London.
He then arrived for service in France, noted as arriving on 8th November.
War diary entries from this period:
“7th Nov 1914 – The Battalion was organised into one Company owing to the shortage of officers. The total strength being 4 Officers and 406 Men. Rifles and Equipment were inspected and indents made for deficiencies.”
“8th Nov 1914 – Battalion continued to be re-equipped”
“11th Nov 1914 – Major G.W. Duberly, Captain the Hon R. Lyson, Lieuts E.S. Ward and C.A.V. Sykes join the Battalion with 401 men.”
12th Nov 1914 – Lieut L.C. Blundell and 2nd Lieut C.V. Fisher-Rowe joined the Bn with 133 men, The afternoon was spent in re-organising the Battalion and posting the Draft to Companies.”
Served on Trench Duty until “14th Dec 1914 – The 1st Guards were relieved to the reserve area by the 2nd Scots Guards.”
Early into 1915, on 14th March 1915 the 1st Battalion Gren Guards were engaged from 10-15th March in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.
During the battle, true to their name, the regiment acted as bomb throwers in a Grenade Company.
Also on 12th March 1915, Edward Barber of the 1st Btn Gren Guards earned a Posthumous Victoria Cross, his citation reads:
“For most conspicuous bravery on 12th March 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. He ran speedily in front of the grenade company to which he belonged, and threw bombs on the enemy with such effect that a very great number of them at once surrendered. When the grenade party reached Private Barber, they found him quite alone and unsupported, with the enemy surrendering all about him.”
On the 12th, the Battalion would also lose their commanding officer, Lieut Col L.R. Fisher-Rowe who died of his wounds.
After being wounded, he was shipped back home and taken in to the St Patrick Hospital in Dublin on 19th March 1915, where he remained until 3rd June 1915.
