WW1 Military Cross unnamed as issued, 1914/15 Star named 2 LIEUT S W APPLEGATE N SOM YEO, British War & Victory (mid emblem) Medals named LIEUT S W APPLEGATE & WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued, mounted as worn.
Stuart Webb Applegate born 1st Dec 1885 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire was an assistant wine merchant working for the family business in Trowbridge. When WW1 came he was appointed 2nd Lt on 21st Oct 1914 with the 1/1st North Somerset Yeomanry and landed with them in France on 19th Dec 1914, they were under the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division. 13th May 1915 they suffered heavy casualties in defending a German attack near Bellewaarde (Ypres). Lt Applegate was awarded the MC LG 14th Jan 1916 probably for the May 1915 action and was also awarded an MID LG 1st Jan 1916.
On 10th Apr 1917 the squadron were on horses and were sent along the Arras Road to H31 where they were halted, it snowed all day. They moved up the Cavalry Track behind the troops of the 8th Brigade but were shelled and moved back to H32 to spend the night in shell holes but the horses were fully saddled. The next day, 11th Apr they got up early and stood too at 5am, between 6am to 7am they were shelled and it was then that Lt Applegate was hit along with three other officers, with Gun Shot Wounds to his left ankle. He was sent back to the UK to recover. He survived the war and was awarded a 30% pension for his wounds.
During WW2 he was a Wine and Spirit Merchant living in Westbury with his father, Albert. Stuart died 12th Dec 1978 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire aged 92 years old.
Provenance DNW 2010 & Dixons Medals 2021.
