Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 38 A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant W. R. McKaig, Liverpool Regiment


Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (1729 L. Cpl. W. R. McKaig, L’pool R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. R. McKaig), mounted as worn, very fine or better (4)


£700-£900 M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.


Wallace Rae McKaig was born in November 1884, the son of William Rae McKaig of ‘Valetta’ in Saffron Park, Liverpool. Having onetime held a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment (London Gazette 21 October 1904, refers), Wallace enlisted as a private soldier on the outbreak of hostilities and went to France as a Lance-Corporal in the 1/6th Battalion in February 1915. He was re-appointed to a commission in the same battalion in October of the same year. His MIC reveals that he was living at ‘Valetta’ around 1921, by then the home of his older brother, John, who had latterly commanded the 1/6th Battalion and was himself the winner of the D.S.O. and Bar.


39


A scarce ‘North Russia’ M.C. group of three awarded to Lieutenant D. W. T. Gurney, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, for consistent gallantry, in particular in leading his men in action under very heavy fire while attacking Bolshevik forces north of Medvyeja-Gora on 15 May 1919, being wounded shortly before the capture of the position.


Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. D. W. T. Gurney.) mounted as worn, very fine (3)


£1,000-£1,400


M.C. London Gazette 3 October 1919: ‘He displayed consistent gallantry throughout several weeks’ continuous fighting during the successful advance down the Murmansk railway in April and May, 1919. On 15th May, when attacking the enemy north of Medvyeja-Gora, his platoon came under heavy machine-gun fire. He dashed forward with his front section, and led his men splendidly till he fell severely wounded just prior to the capture of the position.’


Daniel Walter Thomas Gurney was born in Chelsea, London on 29 April 1898, the son of Walter and Violet Gurney, and was educated at Eton. Upon leaving Eton in 1916, he immediately receivied a commission in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, secured by his grandfather Sir Somerville Gurney, K.C.V.O. (letter from Buckingham Palace included with lot refers). He served during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 July 1917 and, according to the ‘List of Etonians who fought in the Great War 1914-1919’, was wounded there. He was afterwards posted to the No. 1 Special Company, K.R.R.C., and fought in North Russia.


The following extract from the K.R.R.C. Chronicle details Gurney’s Military Cross action: ‘At about 4:00 p.m. we occupied the enemy second position, and were faced with a long, wooden ridge at about 400 yards distance. On the right De Salis and Allhusen with Nos. 3 and 1 platoons had occupied a bare rocky knoll and Rifleman Boreham was engaging the enemy maxim with a Lewis gun fired over the top of a large rock. On the left Maclure with the Rifle Brigade platoon and Jervis with No. 2 had gone off with Major Yeats Brown to turn the enemy right. After an uphill fight, in which a Colt machine gun was engaged at point blank range and knocked out by a Lewis gun, the enemy right completely crumpled up and fled. Meanwhile the heavy covering fire from No. 3 and a short advance by No. 1, in which Allhusen was wounded, had fully occupied the enemy’s attention. Consequently Nos. 2 and 4 found themselves on the flank and rear of the Bolo, who fled in disorder under a storm of rifle and Lewis gun fire. This action, which was fought over very difficult ground in face of very heavy fire from a confident enemy, was a very creditable start for a company which had never previously done any field training together. Our success was due to Major Yeats Brown’s determined leading, as much as to the endurance of the men, and the excellent shooting of the Lewis gunners. In this fight which lasted for about eight hours, we lost Lieutenants Allhusen and Gurney, wounded, and eight other ranks. The enemy left over forty dead on the ground, and we captured two machine guns and many prisoners.’


A note with the lot states that according to the family Gurney lost a leg as a result of his wounds. He was placed on the Half Pay list, on account of ill health caused by his wounds, on 15 July 1920. He died 17 September 1985.


Sold with portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform; a small cloth pouch with ‘DWG 1918’ affixed; a Buckingham Palace letter dated 18 May 1916 to Sir Somerville Gurney, K.C.V.O. (the recipient’s grandfather) offering the recipient a commission with the K.R.R. C., and a form detailing the commission application procedure.


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