A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. H. Lewis, 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, for gallantry at Messines in June 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (6-17284 Sjt: J. H. Lewis. 6/S.W. Bord:); British War Medal 1914-20 (7284 Sjt. J. H. Lewis. S. Wales Bord.) nearly extremely fine (2) £300-360

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the South Wales Borderers.

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M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917. The following citation is published in The 25th Division in France & Flanders 1916-1918:

‘MESSINES June 1917. A few days before the Messines attack, a gas shell penetrated a dug out in which this NCO and 14 men were living. The majority of the men were gassed before they had time to adjust their respirators. Sgt Lewis was on the point of putting on his own respirator when he noticed that the respirator of one of the wounded men had been broken, so he put his own respirator on the wounded man, and just managed to get him out of the gas, when he was gassed himself.’

Served in France from 24 September 1915 and entitled to 1914-15 Star trio. He was transferred to Class Z Reserve on 14 March 1919. Sold with copied m.i.c.