The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 4th Regiment, South African Infantry

A scarce M.S.M. for gallantry awarded to Acting Company Sergeant Major J. S. Holborn, M.M., 4th Regiment, South African Infantry, who was twice decorated for initiative and courage and was later killed in action during the German Spring Offensive on 17 April 1918

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (X15 A.Cpl. J. S. Holborn. 4/S.A. Inf:) traces of adhesive to reverse, minor edge bruise, nearly extremely fine and scarce to unit £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 4th Regiment, South African Infantry.

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M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917.
The original recommendation - initially for a D.C.M. - states: ‘In the operations on 9 April [1917] this Non Commissioned Officer was in charge of a platoon and displayed great initiative and courage. In the attack on the second objective he led a bombing attack against a portion of the enemy and dispersed them. In the operations of 12 April, he again led his platoon in a very gallant manner and by his courage act - a very splendid example to the men. In this attack he was wounded, but in the arm and the leg but refused to leave his post for nearly four hours after being wounded and until he had been assured that his platoon was in a secure position.’

M.S.M. London Gazette 9 March 1917.
The original recommendation states: ‘For Gallantry in the Performance of Military Duty. During a course of instruction in live grenade throwing, an N.C.O. threw a live mills bomb which lodged in the parapet of the trench just above his head. L/Cpl. Holborn pushed the man aside and grasping the bomb threw it over the parapet, thus averting a most serious accident and probably saving several lives. Deed performed at Bordon, 23 July 1916.’

John Simpson Holborn, a boilermaker, was born in Gourock, Scotland, around 1876, and attested for the 4th South African Infantry at Bordon on 29 November 1915. Allocated the Regimental number ‘X15’ and attached to “K” Company, he disembarked at Rouen for the Western Front shortly after his M.S.M. winning exploits and was promoted Corporal in the trenches on 8 August 1916. Further promoted Sergeant 6 November 1916, his service records state that he survived the Battle of the Somme but was wounded in action on 12 April 1917, during the action for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Evacuated to Eastbourne suffering from a severe gunshot wound to the right hip, he returned to Belgium in March 1918 as Acting Company Sergeant Major. He was killed in action a short while later on 17 April 1918; he has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Sold with copied service record and private research.