Three: Corporal G. Plummer, Military Foot Police, who was reputedly the first man of the Allied Armies to enter the City of Lille following its Liberation, 17 October 1918

British War and Victory Medals (P-1854 L.Cpl., M.F.P.); Belgium, Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, together with the recipient’s Amateur Athletic Association Medal, 1915 Military Meeting, silver, the reverse engraved ‘1915 Aldershot Tug of War 1st Military Police’, good very fine (4) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to The Military Police.

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Belgium, Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918

‘For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign.’

Frederick George Plummer served prior to the Great War as a Police Constable in the Sussex Constabulary, and attested for the Military Foot Police at Ringmer in 1915. He served in France from 11 October 1915 (entitled to a 1914-15 Star), and ‘... saw action in Rouen, Boulogne, Ypres, Balieul, Armentieres, Albert and Arras before going to Behtune and Lille. After the Germans had evacuated Lille Lance-Corporal Plummer was the first man of the Allied Armies to enter the City and was carried shoulder high by the inhabitants of Lille. He later married a girl from Lille, Mdlle. Catteau. On the 10th anniversary of the liberation Sunday, 14 October 1928 Mr Plummer was invited back to Lille and was presented with a special gold medal by the city. The medal is of artistic design. On one side it is inscribed "Ville de Lille" and it bears in imposing relief, the head and shoulders of La Deesse. In the background is a representation of the magnificent building, La Bourse, and at the foot is a shield bearing the arms of Lille. On the reverse side oak and laurel leaves form the only decoration and there is the inscription: "A Frederick George Plummer. 14 October 1928.” The medal in solid gold is the size of a 5 shilling piece, and only 2 others have been awarded, 1 to the French President and the other to a prominent French Politician. Mr Plummer is the only Englishman to received this honour.’ (Sussex newspapers refer)