A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Acting-Serjeant Gunner J. H. T. Weatherley, Royal Field Artillery

Military Medal, G.V.R. (94773 Gnr., D.276/W. Lan. Bde. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, G.V.R. (94773 A-Sjt., R.A.) good very fine (3) £300-350

M.M. London Gazette 7 October 1918.

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Le Preol on 9th April 1918 during the enemy attack. About 4.15 a.m. on 9th April the enemy put down a heavy barrage of shells of all calibres, cutting all communications between batteries and wagon lines. O.C. Brigade wagon lines immediately despatched several mounted orderlies to get in touch with Brigade H.Q. but by 8 a.m. none had returned. At 8 a.m. he sent off Driver Weatherby (sic) to take a message to Brigade H.Q. and bring back orders. In spite of the heavy barrage through which he had to pass, Driver Weatherby (sic) succeeded in getting through, delivering his message and bringing back orders to the wagon lines’.

The 276 Brigade R.F.A. War Diary records for 9 April 1918 that the ‘Enemy opened heavy H.E. and Gas Bombardment on all Battery area’.

John Henry Thomas Weatherley, a Boot Repairer from Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, enlisted into the Army at Hounslow on 15 March 1915, aged 22 years, 3 months, and was posted to the R.F.A. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 13 September and was posted to 276 Brigade R.F.A. in October 1917. For his bravery in action on 9 April 1918 he was awarded the M.M. Serjeant Weatherley was demobilized on 22 April 1919. Sold with copied research, including service papers; gazette extracts; war diary extracts etc.