A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. and bar attributed to Captain L. B. Farrior, an American Medical Officer attached to the Scots Guards

Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, unnamed, in case of issue, extremely fine £650-750

M.C. citation, ‘On 21st August near Moyenneville this medical officer went forward with the attacking troops to organize his stretcher bearers in the fog. In spite of heavy fire he visited all Companies and arranged for the evacuation of their wounded. On the night 2nd-23rd August near Hamflincourt, on hearing that casualties were occuring at the assembly position, he went forward and dressed wounded officers and men under a heavy barrage. He established a dressing station in Moyenneville on the 23rd and by efficient organization and complete disregard of danger saved many lives. (signed) W. MacKenzie, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion Scots Guards’; dated 25 August 1918.

M.C. Bar citation: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on October 15, 1918. This Medical Officer, on hearing that one of the front companies had suffered heavy casualties and that several wounded men were lying out in an exposed position, at once volunteered to go out with a stretcher bearer party and bring them in. Though in full view of the enemy and under very heavy machine gun fire, his party succeeded in bringing in several of these wounded men, he himself carrying one on his back. His courage and initiative undoubtedly saved these men’s lives. (signed) M’Kenzie, Lt.-Col., Commanding 1st Bat. Scots Guards’.

The lot is sold with the original citation for the Military Cross signed by Lieutenant-Colonel MacKenzie - this mounted for display in an old folder. Also with a photocopied photograph of the recipient in uniform and a photocopied newspaper cutting concerning Captain Farrior, his military service and awards:

‘The County of Barbour. known throughout the State (Alabama) for the distinguished men she has reared has again come into the limelight, when one of her sons was decorated by the British Government, and the latest honor was when he was promoted to a Captaincy. .... Lawrence Bryant Farrior, son of John B. Farrior of Clayton. Captain Farrior, who enlisted in the British Army, before his own country declared war, has served for three years as a physician ...’ The article continues with a letter from the recipient to his family, writing immediately postwar from ‘82 Whetley Hill, Bradford, Yorkshire’ in which he writes of his son, describes the ‘prettiest parts of England’ (Yorkshire) and provides full details of the two citations above.