GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 120
A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Company Quarter-Master Sergeant F. E. W. Smith, 102nd Battalion Canadian Infantry (2nd Central Ontario Regiment)
MILITARYMEDAL, G.V.R. (703218 Sjt. F. E. W. Smith, 102/Can. Inf.); BRITISHWARMEDAL 1914-20 (703218 C.Q.M. Sjt. F. E. W. Smith, 102-Can. Inf.); VICTORY MEDAL 1914-19, naming erased, polished overall, thus good fine (3)
£280-320 M.M. London Gazette 13 March 1919.
Francis Edgar Wolsey Smith was born in Victoria, British Columbia in July 1876 and enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in January 1916. Embarked for the U.K. he subsequently joined the 102nd Battalion Canadian Infantry in France in August 1916 and was advanced to Sergeant in February 1917. The award of his M.M. was confirmed in a Corps Order dated 4 December 1918 - among others listed as having received gallantry awards in the relevant announcement in his unit’s war diary is Lieutenant G. Lyall, who was awarded the V.C. Smith was discharged in Canada as a C.Q.M. Sergeant in June 1919, aged 42 years.
Sold with copied research, including service record. 121
A Great War St. Quentin September 1918 operations M.M. group of three awarded to Private B. H. Tuckett, 24th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, a stretcher bearer who continued his gallant work of rescuing the wounded undeterred by incessant machine-gun and shell fire: he was himself wounded or gassed on three separate occasions between October 1917 and September 1918
MILITARYMEDAL, G.V.R. (6405 Pte. B. H. Tuckett, 24/Aust Inf.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (6405 Pte. B. H. Tuckett, 24 Bn. A.I.F.), contact marks and somewhat polished, thus nearly very fine (3)
£800-1000 M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1919. The original recommendation states:
‘This man acted as stretcher bearer throughout the attack on Mt. St. Quentin near Peronne on 1 September 1918, and displayed a courage and devotion to duty which were of the highest order. Undeterred by incessant machine-gun and shell fire, he continued his work of rescuing the wounded, and he worked unremittingly until every casualty was removed from the field. During the operation his company trench was heavily shelled by 6.9s and among the casualties were two wounded men who had been buried. Though the bombardment still continued Tuckett, without hesitation, worked and dug these men out, tended their wounds, and carried them back to safety. His utter disregard for his own safety was instrumental in saving the lives of many of his comrades.’
Bertie Hector Tuckett was born at Nathalia, Victoria in 1891 and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne in October 1916. Drafted to the 24th Battalion, he arrived in France in mid-June 1917 and was wounded by a gunshot wound to his left elbow that October; he was evacuated to England. Rejoining his unit in the Field in February 1918, he was gassed at the end of the following month and, having been treated back in England, rejoined the 24th in the Field in July. Thus ensued his gallant deeds at St. Quentin, near Peronne on 1 September, during the course of which he received bullet wounds to his right leg and elbow, thereby ensuring him yet another ticket to ‘Blighty’. He was finally discharged in December 1919.
Sold with copied service record and M.M. recommendation. 122
A Great War Hindenburg Line 1918 operations M.M. group of five awarded to Private J. G. Morgan, 30th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who displayed conspicuous gallantry in carrying out his duties as a Battalion Runner
MILITARYMEDAL, G.V.R. (4079 Pte. J. G. Morgan, 30/Aust Inf.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (4079 Pte. J. G. Morgan, 30 Bn. A.I.F.); WARMEDAL 1939-45, officially re-impressed ‘32215 J. J. Morgan’; AUSTRALIAN SERVICEMEDAL 1939-45, officially impressed, ‘32215 J. J. Morgan’, note differing initials, the earlier awards a little polished, nearly very fine, otherwise good very fine (5)
£700-900 M.M. London Gazette 20 August 1919. The original - joint - recommendation states:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the period 4 April 1918 to 3 October 1918. All these men have acted as runners with the Battalion during every tour of duty the Battalion has performed in the line. On every occasion, they have shown a high sense of duty and although called on many times to carry out important despatches under heavy fire and adverse conditions, they never once failed to accomplish their mission. Since the first advance on 8 August, they have displayed untiring energy and a cheerfulness which was remarkable considering the great amount of work they were called on to perform owing to the continual advancement of the line. At various times they have been called on to act as guides to assembly areas and although often in strange country, they invariably led the units to the correct spot on time. The splendid spirit and high sense of duty continuously displayed by all four men throughout the whole period is deserving of special recognition.’
Joseph George Morgan was born in Sydney in 1898, where he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in May 1916. Drafted to the 30th Battalion, he arrived in France in March 1917 where, as cited, he served with distinction as a Battalion Runner. He was also recommended - without success - for a “mention” in September 1918 and the Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.), the citation for the latter distinction citing his gallantry on the Hindenburg Line:
‘This man has carried out the duties of Battalion Runner with conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the period 16-17 September 1918 ... During the attack on the Hindenburg Line in September, he displayed great gallantry and a determination to succeed under most adverse conditions. He repeatedly carried important messages through enemy barrages and rendered very valuable services in acting as a guide to a company of the battalion which was called on to take part in an operation at very short notice. The splendid spirit and courage of this man at all times is deserving of special mention.’
Morgan was in Australia in June 1919; sold with copied service record and M.M. recommendation. 123
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. awarded to Private E. S. Sturgis, 26th Battalion Royal Fusiliers MILITARY MEDAL, G.V.R. (228224 Pte., 26/R. Fus.) good very fine M.M. London Gazette 12 December 1917.
£220-260
Edward S. Sturgis, from Nunhead. Entering the Army in October 1914, he served initially with the East Surrey Regiment before transferring to the Royal Fusiliers. With the 26th Battalion he earned the M.M. in France. Later served with the 1st Battalion London Regiment. He was discharged due to wounds on 13 April 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge in addition to the British War and Victory Medals.
With copied gazette and roll extracts and m.i.c.
www.dnw.co.uk
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