Military Medal GVR (40195 CPL. T.W. CATTON. R.E.); 1914-15 Star (40195 SPR. T.W. CATTON. R.E.); British War Medal (40195 CPL. T.W. CATTON. R.E.); Victory Medal (40195 CPL. T.W. CATTON. R.E.)
Thomas William Catton was born in New Lenton, Nottinghamshire on 7 December 1888. He attested for service in WWI with the 61st Field Company (Nottingham), Royal Engineers and was posted to France on 20 May 1915.
He was reported Wounded in Action whilst a 2nd Corporal on 20 August 1917 and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the London Gazette of 20 August 1919 - two years to the day after he was reported wounded.
Part of the 14th Division, the 61st were deployed at Watten, northwest of St. Omer after landing on 25 May 1915. From there they were involved in plenty of action on the Western Front - at Hooge on 19, 30 Jul & 9 Aug 1915, at Bellewaarde on 25 Sep 1915, Delville Wood from 15 Jul – 3 Sep 1916, Flers-Courcelette from 15-22 Sep 1916, Arras, 1st Scarpe from 9-14 Apr 1917, Arras, 3rd Scarpe from 3-4 May 1917, Langemarck from 16-18 Aug 1917, the battle of Menin Road from 22-26 Aug 1917, Poelcappelle on 9 Oct 1917, Passchendaele on 12 Oct 1917 and again from 26 Oct – 10 Nov 1917.
From there they moved on to St. Quentin from 21-23 Mar 1918, Avre on 4 Apr 1918 before moving to Lillers and the Aire area on 6 Apr 1918. They then entrained at Aire on 16 Jun 1918, moving to Boulogne the next day and then a spot at Home, Folkestone to Brookwood on 17 Jun 1918.
They returned to France and were at Wierre Effroy, north east of Boulogne from 2-6 Jul 1918 before moving to Ypres from 28 Sep – 2 Oct 1918, Courtrai from 14-19 Oct 1918 and finishing the war bridging the River Schelde on 5 Nov 1918. It was most likely for an act of bravery in these last few months, having returned to France, that Catton was awarded the MM.
According to the 1939 Register, Catton was living at 4 Snow Hill, Melton Mowbray and was a Domestic Plumber by trade. He died in Basford, Nottinghamshire in March 1975.
Medal is in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research.
