orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

Major Charles Edgar ‘Chas’ Bryant, D.S.O. (1885-1950);
commissioned Second Lieutenant 12th Lancers, 21.5.1905;
whilst serving with the regiment in India he became a notable
big game hunter and polo player; he was a member of the
Subalterns’ Cup winning team in both 1908 and 1909;
appointed Adjutant, April 1914, and was to join the 7th
Hussars in India, July 1914; due to the outbreak of the Great
War he remained as Adjutant with the 12th Lancers and
served with the regiment in the French Theatre of War, from
17.8.1914; the Regimental Journal gives the following for
the actions behind the award of Bryant’s D.S.O., ‘The
Regiment, however, have always regarded the award as being
for the action at Moy. On 28th August, 1914, the 12th Royal
Lancers were resting in the grounds of the Chateau of Moy,
on the River Oise, when gunfire was heard. This was assumed
to come from a patrol of the Scots Greys which, along with
the 20th Hussars and the Twelfth, was part of the 5th Cavalry
Brigade. The Regiment was ordered to saddle up
immediately, and ride towards the sound of the firing. The
commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Wormald, and the
Adjutant, Captain Bryant, led the Regiment. ‘C’ Squadron
under Captain J.C. Michell, and Lieutenant Styles’ machine
gun section followed close behind. A squadron of German
cavalry was spotted, about half a mile away, moving in close
formation down the hill towards Moy on the east side of the
road. ‘C’ Squadron and the machine gun section dismounted
to engage the enemy. Rapid fire forced the Germans to
dismount also, and they retreated disorganised up the
forward slope of the hill to the crest. By this time ‘A’ and ‘B’
Squadrons had arrived, and these were ordered to move
under cover to some high ground on the Germans’ east flank.
Brigadier-General Sir Philip Chetwode Bart., commanding
the 5th Cavalry Brigade, sent two squadrons of the Greys to
support ‘A’ and ‘B’ Squadrons of the Twelfth. He also sent
the 20th Hussars west of the St. Quentin road in order to
attempt to turn the Germans’ east flank. The 13 pounder
guns of ‘J’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, then came into
action in support of ‘C’ Squadron.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wormald now decided to try to close the
distance between ‘C’ Squadron and the enemy, while the
latter’s attention was engaged by ‘A’ and ‘B’ Squadrons.
Thus he ordered ‘C’ Squadron to mount, and sent Captain
Bryant ahead to reconnoitre. Bryant found the ground
immediately in front of the German position was such that it
was possible to approach within fifty yards of it without being
seen. Reporting back to Lieutenant-Colonel Wormald, he
gave his opinion that the ground offered a wonderful
opportunity for a charge. Wormald agreed, and moved ‘C’
Squadron forward, forming line just below the crest of a hill.
As the squadron topped the crest ‘Gallop’ and ‘Charge’ were
sounded in quick succession by Trumpet-Major Mowlam and
the ‘C’ Squadron trumpeter. The squadron, led by a small
group consisting of Wormald, Bryant, Mowlam and the
Colonel’s two orderlies (Privates Pacey and Nolan), rapidly
closed with the enemy.
Surprise was complete, though the Regiment did suffer
casualties; particularly among the leading group: Wormald
was wounded, Mowlam was wounded in the thigh and later
captured, Private Nolan was killed, and Private Pacey, had his
horse shot from under him. Only Bryant was unscathed, and
he passed through the enemy position having accounted for
five Germans. Bryant later accorded his success to the type of
sword he was using, “The C.O. was using a new Wilkinson
thrusting sword (1912 Pattern), which buckled like an ‘S’
and was wrenched out of his hand after transfixing a German.
I was using the old cutting sword (1895 Pattern), well
sharpened, which went in and out of Germans like a pat of
butter.”
‘C’ Squadron lost Captain Michell, killed as he topped the
rise, and so it fell to Bryant to rally the Squadron after it had
also passed right through the German position. Bryant led
‘C’ Squadron back through the position to the bottom of the
hill, and then wheeled to charge a second time. The squadron
orders, deCoratioNs, CampaigN medaLs aNd miLitaria
WWW.spiNK.Com
Major C.E. Bryant
reformed, and withdrew under the covering fire of ‘J’ Battery
and the rest of the Brigade. ‘C’ Squadron’s other casualties
were three killed and six wounded’; the German regiment
that had been engaged was the 2nd Prussian Dragoons, and
due to the large number of casualties that they suffered
during the action they were withdrawn into the reserve; the
charge at Moy was the last time that the 12th Royal Lancers
charged with the lance.
The Royal Flying Corps - A Different Type of Steed
Bryant left the regiment in June 1916 and was attached
Captain, Royal Flying Corps, 13.11.1916; posted as a Pilot
to 23 (Fighter) Squadron (F.E. 2b’s), Vert Galland, France
30.11.1916; the squadron was mainly tasked with flying
offensive patrols; appointed Flight Commander 22.12.1916,