A Great War ‘Italian Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Second Lieutenant W. R. Branker, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, attached 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, late Royal Army Medical Corps, killed in action, France, 5 October 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (35421 S. Mjr., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.) nearly extremely fine (4) £1600-2000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Medals to the Sherwood Foresters.

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M.C. London Gazette 2 December 1918. ‘T/2nd Lt., K.R.R.C., attached 11th Bn. Notts. & Derbys.’ ‘Italy’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership during a raid. He led his platoon with great coolness and determination, and when a section lost its way he went out and found it and guided it back to its position under considerable enemy fire.’

Sergeant-Major Walter Robert Branker, R.A.M.C., entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 23 November 1915. He was commissioned into the K.R.R.C. on 29 January 1918. As a 2nd Lieutenant on attachment to the 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in Italy, he won the M.C. for his bravery and leadership in action at Grenezza, July 1918. In September 1918 his battalion was posted to France. Lieutenant Branker was killed in action, 5 October 1918, in the heavy fighting around Guisancourt Farm in the advance to Le Cateau. He was buried in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy. He was the son of James and Mary Branker of Paisley and the husband of Annie C. Hunter Branker of 14 Argyll Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire. With copied research.