Campaign Groups and Pairs 194
‘One of our corporals here, Gregory by name, has had three marvellous escapes. His cap was carried off his head by a bullet; the handle of his bayonet at the end of his rifle was shattered; and lastly, when he had his rifle at his shoulder ready to fire, a bullet went clean through his rifle just above the trigger, grazing his right thumb and left cheek a bit. However, all comes to him who waits; he was shot through the instep some days later, and his foot may have to be amputated, poor devil.’
The Siege of the Peking Legations: A Diary, Lancelot Giles.
A fine Defence of Legations and M.S.M. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer William Gregory, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was wounded, mentioned in despatches and promoted for his bravery during the siege
China 1900, 1 clasp, Defence of Legations (Corpl. W. Gregory, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (W.O.1 W. Gregory. R.M.) the Victory Medal officially re-impressed and named to R.M.L.I.; Defence Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G. C.,
E.VII.R. (PLY. 6529 William Gregory, Sergeant, R.M.L.I.; Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal,
G.VI.R., 1st issue (PLY. 6259. Q.M.S. W. Gregory. 14.2.49.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (6)
£7,000-£9,000 78 clasps awarded to the Royal Marine Guard for the Defence of the Legations during the siege of Pekin, 20 June to 14 August, 1900.
William Gregory was born at Crediton, Devon, on 24 January 1873, and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Exeter on 24 June 1893, a farmer by trade. After training at the Royal Marines Depot at Walmer, he was transferred to Gosport, Plymouth, and in November 1894 he was posted to Gibraltar. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in December 1897, and to Corporal a year later. In September 1899, he embarked in H.M.S. Centurion, then into H.M.S. Barfleur for passage to join the China squadron at Wei Hai Wei. On 28 May 1900, orders were received for the Marine contingent to proceed to the British Legation at Peking. A total of 3 officers and 75 other ranks subsequently took part in the siege of the British and other foreign legations during the ‘Boxer’ rebellion.
Gregory was wounded by a bullet in the right foot on 3 July 1900, during a night attack as briefly described by Captain Edmund Wray R.M.L.I., commanding British Marine Guard, in his despatch of 26 August:
‘Captain Myers, the officer commanding American Marine Guard, with a force of 15 Americans, 25 British Marines under Serjeant Murphy, and 15 Russians, carried and occupied two Chinese barricades on the South City wall towards the Chun Min gate. Serjeant T. Murphy showed great courage and coolness in leading the second assault after Captain Myers had been wounded. This action was carried out at night. Corporal Gregory wounded.’
By the time the siege of 55 days was lifted in August 1900, the Royal Marines had lost two men killed and 15 wounded. Gregory, in addition to being mentioned in despatches, was one of four Royal Marines and two Naval ratings who were recommended for promotion, and he was duly promoted to Sergeant. He saw out the remainder of his service in England, rising in rank to become Warrant Officer 1 in 1918 after serving during the war as a Harbour Master. He served with the Home Guard in Devon during the Second World War, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on 7 August 1949. William Gregory died at Axminster, Devon, on 29 September 1955, aged 82.
Sold with comprehensive research including a copy of Corporal Gownay’s excellent and lengthy, but unfinished, account of the siege written in 1914 and published in the Globe & Laurel, which contains many mentions of Gregory and his active part in the fighting, and photocopy of the Royal Marines Legation Guard group photograph taken at Pekin in 1900 and published in The Globe and Laurel with identification.
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