A Great War 1918 ‘French theatre’ stretcher-bearer’s M.M. group of three awarded to Private A. Bruce, 6th (Service) Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who died of wounds on the Western Front, 2 October 1918, having been shot in the chest the day before at Manhattan Farm near Courtrai

Military Medal, G.V.R. (29717 Pte A. Bruce. 6/K.O. Sco: Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (29717 Pte. A. Bruce. K.O. Sco. Bord.); Memorial Plaque (Alexander Bruce) last in card envelope issue with O.H.M.S. envelope addressed to ‘Mrs. C. Bruce, 25 North Street, Fraserburgh’, nearly extremely fine (4) £360-£440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Kenneth Petrie Collection.

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M.M. London Gazette 27 June 1918.

Alexander Bruce was a native of Fraserburgh, Scotland, and resided with his wife at 25 North Street. He served during the Great War with the 6th (Service) Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers on the Western Front. Private Bruce died of wounds received on the Western Front, 2 October 1918. A letter to his widow (included with lot) from an officer of the 6th Battalion gives the following:
‘There are quite a few here who knew your husband well, who were with him when he was wounded, also the man who buried him.... Your husband was hit with a machine gun bullet in the chest, at Manhattan Farm, near the small town of Ledgingham in Belgium. This town is near the large town of Courtrai and is due east of Ypres.

When your husband was wounded he was taken to the Casualty Clearing Station and then to No. 28 Field Ambulance which was situated at a White Chateau at Potige near Ypres. Here, he succumbed to his wound on the following day.

Your husband was buried in the cemetery at this place. A cross was put on the grave bearing his name and decoration... He was acting as stretcher-bearer and in this capacity he did splendid work in rescuing and relieving those of his comrades who were wounded...’

Private Bruce is buried in the Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Sold with the following related items and documents: Telegram informing Mrs C. Bruce - recipient’s wife - of the death of recipient; Enclosure for M.M. addressed to widow, and dated 30 May 1919; Letter from Second Lieutenant J. MacGregor to recipient’s widow, dated 11 January 1919; and Slide of photograph of recipient in uniform with his family.