A Great War 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. and 1917 ‘Ypres Salient’ Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Corporal W. E. Tongue, 14th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (1st Birmingham), later Second Lieutenant, Worcestershire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (14-73 Pte. W. E. Tongue. 14/R. War: R.); 1914-15 Star (73 Pte. W. E. Tongue, R. War. R.); British War and Victory Medals (73 Cpl. W. E. Tongue R. War. R.) mounted for display, light contact marks overall, generally very fine or better (4) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23 February 1918.

Walter Edward Tongue was a native of Handsworth, Birmingham. He served during the Great War with the 14th (Service) Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (1st Birmingham) in the French theatre of war from 21 November 1915. The Battalion served as part of the 13th Brigade, 5th Division on the Somme, July - September 1916. The Battalion History for the period 19 July - 25 September 1916, records casualties of 36 officers and 1,047 other ranks. Having been withdrawn from the Somme in the first week of October, ‘it was during our first stay in Gorre that the battalion was notified that the Military Medal had been awarded to Lance-Corporal J. A. Roberts, Privates W. E. Tongue, R. V. Sorge, and W. Poulton in recognition of gallant services and devotion to duty.’ (The First Birmingham Battalion in the Great War, by J. E. B. Fairclough refers)

Tongue advanced to Corporal, and received a Bar to his M.M. when the Battalion formed part of the 5th Division’s attack on the Ypres Salient:

‘At 5.30 am, on 4th October [1917], the 5th Division, with the 21st Division on the left and the 37th Division on the right, moved forward for the attack. The already continuous gunfire developed immediately a thousandfold, and hell itself seemed to be let loose. The attack started well and by 7am our troops reported the capture of the first objective with many prisoners. The attack on Gheluvelt had failed on our right, and the right-hand battalion of the 13th Brigade suffered severely from flanking fire. The attack did not succeed in reaching all of the objectives and the line of the brigade finally ran along the western edge of Polderhoek Château. ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies, under command of Captain R. H. Baily, were moved up in close support to the attacking battalions and in reinforcing these they did valuable work. The enemy counter-attacked insistently in mass formation, but our accurate artillery barrage caused him heavy losses. Although all objectives were not gained, the attack had been a success as a considerable advance had been made, many prisoners had been taken, and severe losses had been inflicted on the Germans...

For gallant conduct during the attack the following decorations were awarded to members of the battalion:- Military Cross - 2nd Lieut. C. H. Platt, 2nd Lieut. R. G. Warren. Military Medal (Bar) - Corporal W. E. Tongue.... The casualties were: officers, killed 1, wounded 5; other ranks, killed 24, wounded 96, missing 3, total 129.’ (Ibid)

Tongue subsequently transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant.