A battle of the Ancre M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant F. R. Hart, Hertfordshire Regiment, late 13th London Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, in it case of issue; 1914 Star, with clasp (1176 Cpl., 1/13 Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.) extremely fine (4) £1200-1500

M.C. London Gazette 26 January 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company in the attack with great courage and initiative, and captured his objective. He had previously done fine work. He was severely wounded.’

Frederick Reginald Hart was born in the Parish of Marylebone, London, and enlisted into the 18th (Kensington) Battalion, The London Regiment, on 7 March 1911. He went overseas on 3 November 1914, as a Corporal, with the 1/13th London Regiment (Kensingtons), and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant into the 1st Battalion, The Hertfordshire Regiment, on 4 January 1915.

According to records held at Hertford County Record Office, he won the M.C. for the attack on the Hansa Line, near Beaumont Mill, during the battle of the Ancre, 13th-14th November 1916. The recommendation states: ‘Lt. Hart was in command of No. 2 Coy. and during the advance showed exceptional gallantry in leading his men until severely wounded. During two preceeding years he had done very good work and had on many occasions shown great gallantry.’

Recipient died of wounds in January 1917; the last paragraph of the footnote to lot 1343 refers